Mohan Babu reacts on Sai Baba controversy

Hyderabad: Dwarakapeeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand had caused uproar when he gave a statement on Monday that “Sai Baba should not be worshipped as he was a human being and not a God, and his temples should not be built.”

Tolywood actor Mohan Babu addressing a press meet here on Tuesday on the holy man’s comments said, “He’s an old man and with due respect to him, he shouldn’t be making such statements. Everyone can value their own beliefs but looking down upon others’ religion or caste or belief is unacceptable.” The actor added that he had been a disciple of Shirdi Sai Baba for several decades and that his belief in him was unperturbed. “In the late 1980s when I had a series of flops, I remember praying to him and pleading him to change things for me. And after that, I had several hits,” he said. Mohan Babu added that the only reason he was reacting now was because friends of his who are also devotees of Sai Baba asked him to do so.

“My appeal to him is not to impose his beliefs upon people. If someone doesn’t like Sai Baba, I ask them not to pray. But such statements are insensitive,” he said.