19th July 2008, Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Asaram Bapu is the man at the center of controversies in Gujarat these days. In volatile situation around his ashram in Ahmedabad, these days Gujarat police has provided Asaram bapu extra police security cover with pilot and escort car. However Asaram’s personally arranged security system too is interesting. In the course of visiting his Guru Poornima celebrations for last three years continuously, I and my camera have observed his flamboyant security cover curiously.

Asaram Bapu is always surrounded by security men. Mostly non-Gujarati security persons. They look horrible. At least one of the security men keeps a gun with him(legal or illegal? licensed or not? God knows). Some security men are in army dresses also. I spotted one beautiful fair and healthy lady security woman also, however I could not photograph her. She was dressed in khakhi security pent, shirt and was preventing bapu’s female fans to go near the stage.

In one photo above you can see a glassed cage. This cage travels to every function of Asaram Bapu all over the India. What is the specialty of this cage? well, I inquired and received an answer from a reliable source that this cage is bullet proof(Ashram officials denies this with confidence), this cage is air conditioned, this cage is voice proof and dust proof, this cage has a special communication system that can pass outside audio communication inside and inside privet conversations outside without letting anybody know about it.

In one picture you can also watch red light car. This photo was taken by DeshGujarat in year 2007’s Guru Poornima. Using red light over the car is a privilege restricted to only some elected and appointed government personalities according to the law. But Asaram freely use red light car across India(why sant needs red light?) I had written about this in a newspaper exactly on Guru Poornima day. After that article Asaram skipped using red light car this time to reach to the Guru Poornima stage this year. Last year he had used red light car on Guru Poornima with siren and pilot/ escort of gunned privet security men. Asaram uses common innova car without red light this time in Ahmedabad. However we journalists spotted one red light car parked at ashram. Enjoy the pics.