Don’t you know what austerity means, Mr CM?

Don't you know what austerity means, Mr CM?

Ashok Chavan is probably unaware that Maharashtra's deficit is a daunting Rs 8,462 crore. Why else would he spend Rs 1 crore of govt money on police security for Sathya Sai Baba's visit to his home?

Spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba was on a private visit to meet Chief Minister Ashok Chavan yesterday. He ended up costing the state government a cool Rs 1 crore after 30,000 policemen were deployed to keep him safe.

That's a staggering number considering that only around 10,000 policemen, including those from the traffic department, are on duty on a regular Sunday.

It was Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Himanshu Roy who took the decision to deploy the policemen and sent the message to all police stations on Saturday evening.

Yesterday, the police were already stretched to the limit after several cops were deployed for two religious events that took place at Azad Maidan and Somaiya Grounds in Chunabhatti.

Around 900 policemen had been deployed from Worli, where there were traffic jams on the road to south Mumbai, to the CM's residence, Varsha, at Malabar Hill.
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There was a policeman every 20 m on either side of the road. No vehicles were allowed on Annie Besant Road so that Sathya Sai Baba's 20-vehicle cavalcade could pass smoothly.

Sniffer dogs were used to check for explosives at Varsha and CCI, where Baba met some devotees later.
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Special Branch officers with the Intelligence Bureau were also on hand to keep tabs on rival religious groups.

Love All: Sathya Sai Baba met devotees at the Cricket Club of India yesterday.

'Not acceptable'

MLA Abu Azmi was upset that government used state resources for a spiritual leader's private visit. "I fully condemn the act of the chief minister hosting Sathya Sai Baba.

People can have their beliefs in whomever they want. But it is not right for the chief minister to use state machinery and policemen to host him."

Sunday Blues for Policemen

Several policemen were angry after they were told on Saturday evening that their Sunday holiday had been cancelled because of Baba's visit.

"I had planned to attend a function in Pune and was forced to cancel it," said a senior inspector.

Added an assistant police inspector from the traffic department, "After a hard week at work, we expect to be with our family on a Sunday.

Now, it will be six days before we get another day off." And an angry traffic constable said, "On Sundays, traffic is fairly less on the streets of Mumbai, so we take it a little easy. But we had to slog yesterday."

The Other Side

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said, "I am a devotee of Sathya Sai Baba. I will conduct a religious function at my residence and not elsewhere.

The policemen are expected to protect the chief minister." JCP Himanshu Roy was not available for comment despite repeated attempts.

Bush's Security

Former US president George W Bush was another high-profile visitor to Mumbai over the weekend.

Bush was guarded by two police inspectors, four assistant police inspectors, six sub-inspectors and 58 constables.

Other than this, over 30 police personnel also guarded the Taj Mahal Hotel where he stayed.

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