The BJP appeared to be embarrassed with a YouTube clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch v=ha1D6TjRjZw) showing a host of saffron leaders seeking self-styled godman Asaram’s blessings going viral.
The BJP appeared to be embarrassed with a YouTube clip (https://www.youtube.com/watch v=ha1D6TjRjZw) showing a host of saffron leaders seeking self-styled godman Asaram’s blessings going viral. The clip starts with a BJP chief minister seeking blessing from the controversial godman. While he approaches Asaram carrying a garland in his folded hands, Asaram says: “Yeh hain sadhubaba mukhyamantri (this chief minister is a saint).” He then gives sermon to the BJP chief minister on sleep, claiming that “proper sleep between 11 pm and 1 am helps in retaining youth.” His advice to the BJP chief minister was that “no matter what happens, you or your aides must sleep between 11 pm and 3 am.” For this self-styled godman: “A man’s liver, eyesight and reflexes are affected if he stays awake between 1 am and 3 am.” Therefore “no way the chief minister or his aides should stay awake between 1 am and 3 am.” After the sermon, Asaram tells the audience and the chief minister that he would now show him a footage of a helicopter crash and Rajnath Singh’s remarks. The footage is then played. Asaram had a narrow escape when a helicopter in which he was travelling crashlanded in Godhra where he was to address a gathering in August last year. The footage shows that while the copter crash lands Asaram and others come out unscathed. In that clip, VHP leader Ashok Singhal is shown saying that he just “witnessed a miracle”. Mr Singhal also says: “Only someone like Asaram can change the nation.” Then it is the turn of BJP chief Rajnath Singh, who amidst thunderous applause and Asaram looking at him, says: “The miraculous escape is the result of Bapu’s divine power and nobody can harm our most respected Bapu in any way (parampujya Bapu ka baal baka nahin ho paya).” He also claims that “no political outfit can attract such a huge gathering.” The clip then returns to the present with the chief minister saying that “Bapu is our God,” “If I quit politics I will join you,” “whenever I close my eyes to pray I see you (Bapu) and “whatever I achieved is because of you.” That Asaram is vehemently anti-Congress becomes clear while the chief minister is addressing the crowd. As the chief minister said that “politicians should not indulge in corruption”, Asaram intervenes and says: “But they can indulge in scams like Bofors. Can’t they ”
