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Asaram Bapu Dhamal: From the spot to your Eyes(Video)

DeshGujarat — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:25:08 +0000

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Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Here is an exclusive video of how Asaram Bapu’s sadhaks fought back and responded to Sabarmati and Motera area’s youths who earlier had pelted stones on Asaram ashram and it’s vehicles, broken and torched cars and buses of followers who were going to Asaram ashram for Guru Poornima.

Asaram’s sadhaks jumped in to the ashram’s vehicles and ran towards residential areas on Motera road with sticks in their hands and violence in their minds. However police reached at the spot in minutes and prevented Asaram Bapu’s sadhaks from going ahead on their plans of rampage. Police soon limited Asaram’s followers presence to Asaram ashram road and prevented them to go beyond that road. Asaram sadhaks also followed and obeyed this as they too wanted to do something only symbolic and quick to show their presence of strength to the opponents.

Capturing this video was high risk. Cameras could be broken, physical injuries could happen. Thanks God nothing like that happened. Only kidnapping happened( I was freed), bag with camera was taken for some minutes and mobile phone was broken so that I could not contact police. From amazing amounts of troubles this video has passed from the spot to your eyes only because of our courageous commitment for journalism.

Video was captured from atop the building at the cross junction of Asaram ashram and Motera road. What you will be able to watch in this video is listed here:

1. Firefighter vehicles and police vans running on the road
2. A car with broken windows on Asaram bapu ashram road because of stones throwing by Sabarmati-Motera village youths
3. Asaram bapu’s sadhaks on the jeep, in the trucks with sticks in their hands
4. Asaram bapu’s sadhaks walking and running towards Motera road with sticks in their hands
5. On Motera road, Asaram bapu’s sadhaks entering into the residential society for attack
6. Asaram bapu’s sadhaks ransacking ob van of Network 18 parked in a street
7. Police making Asaram bapu’s sadhaks on run
8. Police beating one Asaram bapu sadhak
9. Hard talks between Asaram bapu’s sadhaks and police

Sant with Gunmen, A.C. Vyaspeeth & Red light Car

DeshGujarat — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:11:54 +0000

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.

Near Death Experience While Covering Asaram Clashes

DeshGujarat — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:54:07 +0000

18th July, 2008 7:00 P.M.

Dear Readers, friends, well wishers and Visitors to this site,

I had near death experience today while covering a clash between pro-Asaram and anti-Asaram mobs on Motera road, Ahmedabad. I feel lucky enough that I have not suffered any injury but my some colleague reporters: TV9 Gujarati’s camera person, Divya Bhaskar’s Kuldeep Kaler, Aaj Tak’s Gopi Ghanghar and her camera person, Times Now’s camera person Maujidan Gadhvi are injured while covering Asaram ashram issue today.

Once I come out of mental stigma and tiredness, I will narrate the whole incidence. I have captured some exclusive videos putting my life in danger and have clicked some photographs too. I will put them on this page soon. My 5000 Rs. mobile phone gifted by my father was rudely thrown and broken by Asaram supporter when I was under attack and tried to call police using that phone. They snatched my I-card too, and my vehicle is still at Asaram Ashram gate, I along with some injured and some feared reporters could only escape from the Asaram ashram today afternoon in 108 ambulance, after getting armed police protection.

Thank You,
Jay Gujarat
Yours
Reporter JP
http://DeshGujarat.Com

****

19th of July, 2008, 12.00 A.M.

Alright, with three of my colleague reporters I dared to go to the main gate of Asaram ashram tonight to take my vehicle back. I have my vehicle back in intact condition. But I will have to manage without mobile phone and a sim-card for next few days.

O.K. here I am putting some exclusive photos of Asaram supporters riding on vehicles to go to the fight with sticks in their hands. Don’t get shock while seeing at these pictures. This is of course not Bihar but our own Gujarat. However I can certainly say that most of these men in pictures are not from Gujarat.

Well, Everything in Asaram ashram was normal till noon. Situation became tense from ashram side when, surrounding Sabarmati and Motera residents who are known for their anti-Asaram stand started harassing, stopping and abusing devotees of Asaram on the roads. Devotees were coming from out of Ahmedabad in auto rickshaws. Sabarmati and Motera people prevented rickshaws to go ahead. They even burnt vehicles of Asaram devotees. They pelted stones too on Asaram supporters vehicles. They compelled every devotee to speak abusing words about Asaram Bapu. They started beating visitors to Asaram ashram on the occassion of Guru Poornima.

After morning Asaram ashram’s sadhaks decided to fight back with the blessings of Asaram Bapu himself from mike. Trucks, jeeps from ashram were ready and sadhaks rushed with sticks in their hands to fight surrounding area people. To make an area around ashram more safer and to create buffer protective zone. These clicks show that atmosphere. I took these photographs from the top of a building. This was very risky because if even one Asaram supporter had seen me, whole mob surely would had been come to harm me. They hated media like anything and I was visibly a media person.

Rest … I will write tomorrow. May be I upload an exclusive video that I captured with high risk also to share with you tomorrow here on the same page.

-JP

***

19th July 9.00 A.M.

It’s a morning and my name is there mentioned in Divya Bhaskar’s coverage of journalists under attack. This is the link http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/2008/07/19/0807190159_supporter_aasharam.html
Lot’s of phone calls are coming on my land line number. Some people are visiting in person too to inquire about my well-being. I am perfectly ok without a scratch thats what I am replying them. Some ladies relatives whom I rarely meet once in five years called and advised me not to venture like this in journalism. I hate such advices. I always take care of myself while in field. I have covered Swadhyay parivar issue, Godhra riots aggressively being in the field in the past without a scratch. I take care of myself always. I will surely try to upload my captured video today itself.

O.K. now here I am uploading some pictures from the Gurupoornima’s morning situation when there was complete peace in the Ashram and everything was on smooth run.

Do you know why lakhs of devotees come to visit Asaram on Guru Poornima? Well, in Asaram sect most of the followers don’t take food or water without ‘darshan’ of Asaram bapu on ‘Poonam’ or full moon night. So wherever Asaram bapu is on full moon day, his thousands of followers go there and only after seeing Asaram bapu they consume food or water. Guru Poornima is year’s biggest full moon day for ‘Guru’. So, therefore lakhs of followers and disciples come to Asaram ashram in Ahmedabad from all over the India. Asaram had organized Guru poornima at 7 places this time. Before real Guru poornima he travelled to Nagpur, Pune, Jaipur, Delhi and Indore to give Guru poornima darshan. In couple of places he had to organize two Guru poornima gatherings in one city.

-JP

***

20th July 12.13 A.M. 2008

Here is an exclusive video of how Asaram Bapu’s sadhaks fought back and responded to Sabarmati and Motera area’s youths who earlier had pelted stones on Asaram ashram and it’s vehicles, broken and torched cars and buses of followers who were going to Asaram ashram for Guru Poornima.

Asaram’s sadhaks gathered in ashram’s vehicles and ran towards residential areas on Motera road with sticks in their hand and violence in their mind. However police reached at the spot in minutes and prevented Asaram Bapu’s sadhaks from going ahead.Police soon limited Asaram’s followers presence to Asaram ashram road and prevented them to go beyond that road. Asaram sadhaks also followed and obeyed this as they too wanted to do something only symbolic and quick to show their presence of strength to the opponents.

Capturing this video was high risk. Cameras could be broken, physical injuries could happen. Thanks God nothing like that happened. Only kidnapping happened( I was freed), bag with camera was taken for some minutes and mobile phone was broken so that I could not contact police and soon. From amazing amounts of troubles this video has passed from the spot to your eyes only because of our courageous commitment for journalism.

Video was captured from atop the building at the cross junction of Asaram ashram and Motera road. What you will be able to watch in this video is listed here:

1. Firefighter vehicles and police vans running on the road
2. A car with broken windows on Asaram bapu ashram road because of stones throwing by Sabarmati-Motera village youths
3. Asaram bapu’s sadhaks on the jeep, in the trucks with sticks in their hands
4. Asaram bapu’s sadhaks walking and running towards Motera road with sticks in their hands
5. On Motera road, Asaram bapu’s sadhaks entering into the residential society for attack
6. Asaram bapu’s sadhaks ransacking ob van of Network 18 parked in a street
7. Police making Asaram bapu’s sadhaks on run
8. Police beating one Asaram bapu sadhak
9. Hard talks between Asaram bapu’s sadhaks and police

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A Photographic and Video visit to Gujarat owned GSPC KG-22

DeshGujarat — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:35:31 +0000

VIDEOS

Gandhinagar, DeshGujarat

State-run Gujarat State Petroleum Corp (GSPC) expects to produce 8-10 million cubic metres of gas per day from end-2010 from its block off the Andhra Pradesh coast. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi said adrresing journalists via video conferencing said on Wednesday that GSPC had found more gas in the Krishna Godavari basin deep-sea block. The firm expects total block reserves to be over 20 trillion cubic feet (tcf).

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi declared valuation of on Thursday for the gas find by Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) in the Krishna-Godavari basin at $100 billion. “The GSPC would be able to fulfil the energy requirements of Gujarat for a long time to come”.Modi siad in his video conferencing oriented press meet. Modi had rushed slongwith his ministers to the offshore drilling platform off the Andhra coast and addressed a press meet from there.

On Thursday Modi and his ministers flew to the KG-22 well near Kakinada, which has created a lot of excitement as its estimated gas reserve of three trillion cubic feet (TCF) is said to be the highest ever from any single well anywhere in India. The total gas in the GSPC’s Deen Dayal block, which is under exploration right now, would be to the tune of Rs 4 lakh crore, or $100 billion.

“We plan to use profit from GSPC for health and education of poor children in Gujarat.” Modi said. On future path of GSPC, he said the GSPC’s commercial output of 8 to 10 million cubic metres of gas daily will start by 2010-end. The GSPC plans to set up a gas processing plant at Kakinada on 300 acres of land this year. The gas will be shipped to Gujarat via Reliance pipeline and will be supplied across Gujarat for homes, industries and automobile.

GSPC holds an 80-percent stake in the block, awarded for exploration to GSPC along with its partners Jubilant Enpro and Canada’s GeoGlobal Resource in 2003.

The KG basin, where Reliance Industries and state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp have also found gas, has huge reserves. Output from Reliance’s assets is expected to double gas supplies in the energy-hungry country.

New Tourist Help Information Desk Center in Ahmedabad

DeshGujarat — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:21:31 +0000

Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has for the first time opened a new tourist information desk at Law Garden. This air-conditioned one roomed center is equipped with trained English/Hindi/Gujarati language staff, broadband internet, information kiosk, music, air conditioned sitting arrangements, almost all major tourist guide books-hand books, brochures and publications related to Gujarat, different Ahmedabad oriented branded items like mugs, t-shirts, calenders, posters, maps, small sized Uttarayan kite sets, key-chains, pictured post cards etc. Interior and Exterior of this Tourist help center has Indo-wester blended look.

Kutch’s Beautiful Chhari Dhand Wetland is Protected now

DeshGujarat — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:10:44 +0000

Why Chhari Dhand’s new ‘protected forest area’ status is good? Read it right here …

Kutch, DeshGujarat

Chhari Dhand. You can term it as a Nal Sarovar of Kutch. However, Nal sarovar has no hill in it’s background or proximity but Chhari Dhand has beautiful hill side just behind it and that makes it more beautiful than Nal sarovar. Also Nal sarovar is no more a virgin place. It is now a crowded place with great human presence. While Chhari Dhand is quite a much untouch place with better environmental experience compare to Nal sarovar.

The flats of Banni area in Kutch conceal many depressions where rainwater gets collected during a good monsoon. These shallow water bodies are locally known as dhand, jheel or talav. (’Dhand’ in Kutchi language means a saucer shaped natural depression.) Chhari Dhand is the largest of these, with an area of almost 10 sq km.

More than 50,000 waterfowls, 250 species of birds and 55 distinct species of animals have been recorded from the areas in and around Chhari Dhandh. More than 30,000 common cranes have been reported during winter. Endangered species like Dalmatian Pelican (Pelicanus crispus), Oriental Darter (Anhingia rufa), Blacknecked Stork (Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus) and Indian Skimmer (Rynchops albicollis) migrate through these wetlands every year. Waterfowl are not the only migratory birds attracted to this region. In fact, 32 species of Raptors have been recorded here. Key species in Chhari-Dhand include many types of raptors and water dependent birds, Grey Hypocolius, White-napped Tit, McQueen’s Bustard and Dalmatian Pelicans.

The huge wetland of Chharidhandh – known for its Flamingo city and habitation of lakhs of migratory birds in winters – has been upgraded status of ‘Conservation Reserve’ by Gujarat government recently. Chhari Dhand is transfered from revenue department to the Forest department. It is right step in the direction of making Kutch an international destination for tourists. Government notification for upgrading the status said “given its ecological, faunal, floral, geomorphological, natural, and zoological significance, the aim of declaring Chharidhandh a conservation reserve is to protect, propagate, and develop wildlife and its environment”. Chhari Dhandh Conservation Reserve will cover more than 22,000 hectares of land in the three Kutch talukas of Bhuj, Nakhtrana, and Lakhpat.

Menace of fishing had rise in recent years at Chhari Dhand. Concern environmentalists and nature lovers including ex MP from royal family of Kutch late Shree Himmatsinhji had raised voice against fishing activities in Chhari Dhand. Then former collector of Kutch, Pradip Sharma had banned fishing activities in Chhari Dhand but fisherman had challenged it in the high-court. High court in it’s order had given full authority to decide in this issue to Gujarat government’s fisheries department. Instead of preventing fishermen to explore Chhari Dhand wetland, Fisheries department had started re-issuing permits to fishermen for fishing. Thus fishing activity had started again in full swing at Chhari Dhand.

As Chhari Dhand is protected forest wetland now, Forest protection act has come into efffect here and commercial activities including fishing are totally banned with immediate effect according to law. Permission will not be granted for any permanent construction in surrounding five to six kilometers area.

This Photo is by mountainpath2001 from flickr

Anti Asaram Group Calls for Ahmedabad Bandh on 18th July

DeshGujarat — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:14:52 +0000

14th July, 2008
Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Two to five thousand People, most of them from Ranip, Niryan nagar, Chandlodiya areas of Ahmedabad marched in a rally on city’s Ashram road today morning demanding justice for Asaram Bapu ashram Gurukul’s two children who were found dead in mysterious condition behind the Ashram in Sabarmati riverbed. Children were from Ranip area where their parents, unhappy with police investigation are sitting on a fast unto the death for justice. In Ranip and surrounding area where there is a great sympathy wave for dead children, 1 lakh brochures were distributed in last some days to make today’s rally successful.

Today’s Rally with various anti Asaram bapu and in a sense anti-government banners obstructed traffic at various places including Income Tax circle, Vadaj junction, Gandhi ashram and Subhash bridge circle. Asaram Bapu’s Guru poornima festival’s hoarding near Sabarmati over bridge was torched by the participants of rally.

At the end of the rally, in a small public meeting, one day strike was declared in Ahmedabad on 18th July. 18th July is Gurupoornima day when Asaram Bapu is going to preside grand guru poornima festival at his Ahmedabad ashrem where around 1 million followers are expected to come. At Asaram ashram in Motera area, Guru poornima festival will be celebrated from 18th to 20th July for three days. Police has planned security arrangements in and around the Ashram for Guru poornima celebrations.

Click here:Asaram Bapu Fights Back in his Delhi Rally(Video)

Click here:Asaram Bapu followers rallied at Sandesh Press

Narendra Modi’s Gujarati Mandal Speech, Chennai(Video)

DeshGujarat — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:35:44 +0000

Narendra Modi’s Chennai Speech in Gujarati Mandal

Chennai 14th July 2008

Chief Minister Shree narendra Modi recently was in Chennai for two major functions: A meet organized by Young President Association and a speech organized by Gujarati Samaj. Here is a speech that Modi delievered in Gujarati Mandal n DG Vaishnav College in Chennai. Speech is in Gujarati language.

Professor Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam will teach at IIM Ahmedabad

DeshGujarat — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:26:25 +0000

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam will teach in IIM Ahmedabad

As a ‘Distinguish professor’,he’ll give 8 lectures in class room this year at IIMA

Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Peoples president Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam worked at Ahmedabad based Space application Center of ISRO in early days of his career. Now after some decades he is going to start a fresh career in the same city. Dr. Kalam will teach the students of Indian Institute of Management from September this year. He has accepted IIM Ahmedabad’s invitation to become a ‘distinguish professor’ and take lectures.

Though Dr. Kalam will not shift his base from Delhi to Ahmedabad, he will often visit IIM-Ahmedabad to teach the students.

Earlier, IIM Ahmedabad had invited Dr. Kalam to become a part of this institute as a distinguish professor. Dr. Kalam accepted this proposal.

Dr. Kalam will deliver 8 lectures of the subject: Globalising resurgence of India through innovative transformation which is commonly known as GRIT.

Dr. Kalam will take his 8 lectures on 13th of Saptember, 7th November and 26-27 November this year. Lectures will be organized in class room with the capacity of 70 students. Students will be selected from PGP, PGP(x), PGP(ABM) and public policy management courses.

There are total 20 lectures in GRIT subject. While 8 will be delivered by Dr. Kalam, other 6 lectures will be delivered by Professor Dr. Anil Gupta who is known as people’s professor in and outside IIMA campus. Padmashree Dr. Anil Gupta is friend of Dr. Kalam. He is currently at Howard for his lectures organized there.

Hang Me if my Men killed boys:Asaram Bapu Fights Back(Video)

DeshGujarat — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:39:19 +0000

Part:2 Asaram Bapu asks whether he should shift his base to Mauritius?

Part:3 We don’t perform Tantrik rituals: Says Asaram Bapu

Ahmedabad, 13th of July 2008, DeshGujarat

“If my disciples killed two children of our Ahmedabad Gurukul, then hang me. I take responsibility. I am ready for that. I have complete faith in my disciples. They even can not beat a dog, they even don’t kill snake at our ashram.How they can kill two boys? Those who listened to Geeta and Bhagwat and joined ashram for service can kill the innocent boys?” said Asaram bapu in his Delhi’s Guru poornima gathering on Saturday morning, fighting back to continuous media reports alleging ashram’s direct or indirect involvement and suspicious role in two children’s death.

He thanked Gujarat’s government, civil hospital(that prepared post postmortem report) and police that has so far remain free from any influence or impression of media reports according to him. He said a newspaper published that Asaram bapu used to sell liquor, Asaram had grabbed 80 crore Rs. land but land was even not worth 8 crore. Gujarat government delayed file of that land for six years and charged 12 percent interest from us.

Asaram bapu rubbished media reports that alleged land grabbing by ashram in Surat. He smelled foreign hand in maligning Hindu saint. He said one leader who disrespect him and sponsored maligning activity lost an election even after spending 1.5 crore Rs. and died then after by brain hemorrhage in helicopter. Saint’s and disciples displeasure can harm such people. Asaram recalled that when Jayendra Saraswati was arrested, he went to support him and sat on the road to protest for three days. Today Jayendra Saraswati is free and woman who sent him to jail is without power. One should learn lessons from such examples and refrain from maligning saints. He said.

Asarambapu’s this video speech was circulated and telecasted widely in his Ahmedabad based ashram on sunday, where disciples were starving and waiting to hear something on two children’s death issue from Asaram Bapu himself.