As tributes continue to pour in for former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh following his death on December 26, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Asim Arun has shared a touching anecdote from his time serving as Singh’s bodyguard. Arun, who represents the Kannauj constituency in Uttar Pradesh and is the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Social Welfare, previously served as an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer in the Special Protection Group (SPG), responsible for the security of the Prime Minister of India.
मैं 2004 से लगभग तीन साल उनका बॉडी गार्ड रहा। एसपीजी में पीएम की सुरक्षा का सबसे अंदरुनी घेरा होता है – क्लोज़ प्रोटेक्शन टीम जिसका नेतृत्व करने का अवसर मुझे मिला था। एआईजी सीपीटी वो व्यक्ति है जो पीएम से कभी भी दूर नहीं रह सकता। यदि एक ही बॉडी गार्ड रह सकता है तो साथ यह बंदा… pic.twitter.com/468MO2Flxe
— Asim Arun (@asim_arun) December 26, 2024
In a post on X, Arun recounted his experience as part of the Close Protection Team (CPT), which manages the innermost security cordon for the Prime Minister. He served as the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of the CPT and was Singh’s constant shadow for nearly three years, starting in 2004.
Arun wrote, “Starting in 2004, I was his bodyguard for nearly three years. The innermost cordon of the SPG in prime minister’s security is managed by Close Protection Team (CPT). I had the chance to lead that team. The AIG of CPT is someone who could never be far from the PM. If there is a situation in which only one bodyguard could be with the PM, then that would be this person. It was my duty to be his shadow all the time.”
A Reflection of Humility and Middle-Class Values
In his post, Arun shared that Singh owned only one personal vehicle—a Maruti 800—which was parked behind his official BMW at the Prime Minister’s Residence. Singh often expressed a desire to drive his Maruti instead of the BMW, as it represented his connection to the middle class and his commitment to understanding the concerns of ordinary citizens.
Arun recounted Singh’s words: “Dr. Sahab had only one car of his own — a Maruti 800. The car would be parked behind the sparkling BMW at the Prime Minister’s Residence. Manmohan Ji used to often tell me, ‘Asim, I don’t like to drive around in this car [BMW]. This [Maruti 800] is my car.’”
He added that he would explain to Singh that the BMW was chosen by the SPG for its security features, not for personal glory. However, Singh would often gaze longingly at his Maruti during their travels, reaffirming his identity as a middle-class individual dedicated to the welfare of the common people. “This car worth crores is of the PM. My car is Maruti,” Singh would remind himself.
Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92, having served as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014 and leading the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. He was also known for his pivotal role as Finance Minister during the economic reforms of the early 1990s.
