Date:13/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/13/stories/2009011354090400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Yagam performed for well-being of Raju

Staff Reporter

— Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Diehard fans: Well-wishers of former Satyam chairman B. Ramalinga Raju performing a yagam in his family’s name at Varasiddhi Vinayaka temple at Kukatpally in Hyderabad on Monday.

HYDERABAD: Five self-professed admirers of one-time IT magnate B. Ramalinga Raju performed a yagam praying for the well-being of the former Satyam chairman and his family.

The Varasiddhi Vinayaka temple in Kukatpally was a beehive of activity on Monday as well-wishers thronged the venue from different corners of the city. “We are performing this homam to pray for Mr. Ramalinga Raju’s good health, early release on bail and for the welfare of employees and stakeholders of Satyam and Maytas,” said S. Sreenivasa Reddy, one of those performing the yagam. He clarified that the yagam was being conducted not by one particular community but by people from different religions, castes and regions of the State.

Steady stream of people

As temple priests chanted Vedic hymns and the hour-long yagam progressed, a steady stream of people kept trickling in. “We are here to express our moral support to Mr. Raju’s family,” they said recalling the social service initiatives he launched in the State.

“While everyone is discussing the bad angle, nobody is talking about various social activities like Byrraju Foundation and EMRI services he started,” an EMRI employee Soma Raju said.

“One should go to villages and see the kind of social activities he has done through Byrraju Foundation,” said Anil Kumar, another admirer. The mood of some of his ex-employees could be best summed up in the words of Mr. Raju: “I am eating his food and it is my moral responsibility to support him in these times. Otherwise it is unethical.”