Even as Asaram Bapu was sentenced to life imprisonment till death by a Jodhpur Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Court for rape and sexual assault, Congress and several others started indulging in mudslinging and deplorable politics. Asaram Bapu faced serious allegations in 2013 in a complaint filed by a teenage rape victim stating that Asaram had raped her in his ashram in Manai area near Jodhpur on the night of 15th August, 2013. This goes on to restore the faith of the ordinary citizens in the Indian judiciary. Asaram Bapu was an influential criminal and yet justice prevailed. He remained in jail for the better part of the trial and there was no unwarranted interference by either the central government or the state government. It is commendable how a fair trial took place and no one came to the rescue of Asaram Bapu.
However, the Congress and other ideologically brainwashed PM Modi-haters tried making a political issue of Asaram’s conviction also. An old video in which PM Modi is seen sharing stage with Asaram Bapu was shared extensively by the Congress and it’s minions on the social media. The video tried to create an impression that PM Modi used to patronize Asaram Bapu despite his criminal character. However, if one were to peruse the past events, it would invariably lead to the finding that PM Modi never shared a comfortable equation with Asaram Bapu. Once Asaram Bapu’s misdeeds came into picture, Narendra Modi, then the Chief Minister of Gujarat went after the fraudster with all his might. In fact, PM Modi and Asaram Bapu were at loggerheads.
No matter how hard, the anti-Modi and Hindu hating cabal tries to malign PM Modi in connection with Asaram Bapu’s conviction, the fact remains that it was Prime Minister Modi (then the Chief Minister of Gujarat) who initiated the downfall of Asaram Bapu. In 2008, Asaram Bapu’s misdeeds came to fore for the first time after two boys mysteriously went missing from his Motera (Gujarat) ashram. The Modi government in Gujarat wasted no time and a probe was launched into the matter. While Asaram Bapu enjoyed considerable patronage from politicians at the time of his peak in popularity across the political spectrum it was PM Modi who showed the courage of taking Asaram to task. Several leaders supported him even after the trial started in connection with allegations of rape against Asaram. According to sources, Prime Minister had even warned the VHP to stay away from the matter. Such was the intensity of the action taken against the godman that an RSS ideologue is believed to have advised Asaram to pack up his bags and run away to the Himalayas. PM Modi had then even confiscated huge tracts of lands belonging to Asaram’s ashrams.
The relationship between Prime Minister Modi and Asaram was always bitter following the stern action taken against Asaram. In fact, in 2012 Asaram had issued a threat against the then chief minister Modi warning it against taking any action against him or his son Narayan Sai in connection with the mysterious death of two students. In a public address, Asaram had warned Modi-led Gujarat government that if it tries to suppress Asaram, he will throw Modi out of power. In 2013, Narendra Modi, who was then the Prime Ministerial candidate, had been reported to be unhappy with BJP leaders defending Asaram Bapu. PM Modi had then stated that a probe is going on in the matter and Asaram should be dealt with as per the law of the land.
The Congress should, therefore, think twice before making a comment about Prime Minister Modi in the sensitive manner. While Asaram Bapu had enjoyed political patronage among a number of parties, it was only Prime Minister Modi who had what it takes to take a criminal to task. While others had remained silent in face of his misdeeds it was only Narendra Modi who dared to go against the influential criminal. In a way, it is only PM Modi who is free of any blame in the nexus between politicians and Asaram Bapu.