Indians have weakness towards self-styled disciples of God and get exploited

Indians are superstitious and have a weakness towards self-styled disciples of God but, the tide seems to have finally turned as people take to the streets and the government puts two influential self-styled spiritual leaders behind the bars. The fall of several such dealers of faith seems imminent and they are running for cover.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 6 September 2015.

In this connection, the police have arrested two such self-styled spiritual leaders, Sarathi baba and Sura baba, and have turned the heat on Bana baba, who runs a sprawling ashram near Konark.
In the opinion of the activists, the babas should debunk superstitions but have, instead, exploited the gullible to amass wealth and build personal empires. Examples are the opulence and alleged debauchery that have been emerging from the Barimula monastery of Sarathi baba in Kendrapara and the Trahi Achyut ashram of Sura baba near Balianta.
Papering by politicians helps these frauds to gather patronage of the commoners and, according to sources, at least two former chief ministers used to visit soothsayers and tantrics. There have also been allegations of political patronage in the case of Sarathi baba.
(Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org)

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