Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala described Sathya Sai Baba as one who practised what he preached.
In his condolence message, he said, “Baba was not only a spiritual leader who carried the message of peace, love and humaneness but also practised it to the core by setting up educational institutions, implementing and supporting various schemes and welfare projects, establishing hospitals and by caring for the poor and downtrodden. His death is an irreparable loss to the nation and to the people as a whole.”
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa said his exit was a loss to humanity as a whole.
Yeoman service
She said that for more than half a century he had been rendering yeoman service to the disadvantaged by establishing educational institutions and hospitals.
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Thangkabalu said that apart from being a spiritual leader, Sai Baba's service to the poor and downtrodden across the globe through educational institutions and hospitals, was well known.
He was lauded as the spiritual treasure-house of India by even foreigners, he added.
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam leader Vijayakanth described Sathya Sai Baba as one who had carved a niche for himself among spiritual leaders by his selfless service to humanity.
Tamil Nadu would not forget the canal project undertaken by him to provide drinking water to Chennai, he added.
