Coverboys! Asaram Bapu's supporters cosy up to Rajnath, Jaitley by featuring them in mag

Possibly in a bid to whitewash his image, Asaram Bapu’s supporters have put Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh on the cover of the self-proclaimed saint’s magazine, . Mid-day, in an exclusive report, says that articles on the two Union ministers feature in the magazine too.  Mid-day reports, “While Singh is quoted praising Asaram for celebrating ‘Mata Pita Pujan Divas’ on Valentine’s Day, the finance minister has spoken of how media trials put undue pressure on courts.” [caption id=“attachment_2118265” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Asaram Bapu.[/caption] It is perfectly clear why Bapu and company put the influential ministers on the cover of their magazine. Bapu’s supporters have been accused of murdering one witness in the recent past and another witness had been attacked in Jodhpur His son has been denied bail by the Gujarat High Court  and the Supreme Court has rejected Bapu’s bail plea. With the judiciary tightening its grip around Bapu, it is clear that the ‘Godman’ is now seeking human intervention, preferably of the political kind. The BJP so far has remained quiet on the issue and will not obviously come in Bapu’s aid publicly. The magazine’s articles, therefore, almost seem like a flimsy attempt to appease the big boys and win them over. The magazine uses Singh’s comments to glorify Bapu. Publishing Jaitley’s comments on the judiciary and alleged media pressure is a not-so-subtle attempt to suggest that Bapu is a victim of first a trial by media and then trial because of the media. Mid-day quotes Jaitley’s piece as saying, “Because of media trials, pressure is built on courts, especially in high-profile cases. Media can make anyone guilty or innocent. Media needs to introspect.” Meanwhile, slain witness Akhil Gupta’s family continue to live in fear of attack from the supporters of the 'godman'.