Jana Vignana Vedika, a group of rationalists who have been relentlessly spearheading an agitation against self-declared God men, has reportedly filed a petition challenging the government’s action in extending full state honours for the funeral of the spiritual master Sri Satya Sai Baba.

Revealing this at a media conference in Hyderabad, the activists of the Jana Vignana Vedika said that the government was at fault for declaring a state funeral for the Baba. “Baba misled people by his magic deeds describing them as godly actions and he doesn’t deserve the state honours,” they said.

The activists performed some tricks and showed how Vibhuti (holy powder) and gold rings could be created out of thin air and asked people to question the activities of the God-men like Satya Sai Baba.

“There are several cases pending in courts against Satya Sai Baba and how can the government grant such honours to the Baba,” they asked.