After Maduro's iconic 2005 visit, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez reaches Prasanthi Nilayam

ANDHRA PRADESH: Even amidst diplomatic hassles, Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez was adamant to visit Prasanthi Nilayam in Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Sathya Sai district on Sunday. President Delcy reached the revered abode of the late Sathya Sai Baba and paid tributes.

A delegation of leaders from Venezuela and even relatives of the president were included in the entourage. At the Sri Sathya Sai Airport, President Rodriguez was received by Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust Managing Trustee R.J. Rathnakar and others. She then headed towards Sai Kulwant Hall and spent time there meditating in the serene atmosphere.

Former Venezuelan President and now incarcerated leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife were ardent devotees of Baba and had travelled to Puttaparthi, India, in 2005 to seek blessings from the spiritual leader.

It is said that the Sathya Sai movement attracted a large following in Venezuela during 1974, drawing many leaders of the country to be ardent devotees of Baba. Despite the government's crackdown on several NGOS in the country, Maduro’s administration had allowed the Sathya Sai Trust to function freely.

Even inside the presidential palace in Caracas, there are large portraits of Baba. When Sathya Sai Baba passed away in 2011, Venezuela declared one full day of national mourning.