Ahmedabad, January 30: With Asaram Bapu serving life imprisonment term till death for rape in Jodhpur Jail, Gujarat Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama's new letter to the rape convict's ashram in Motera -- praising them for celebrating Valentine's Day as 'Matru-Pitru Poojan Divas' -- has become an embarrassment to the ruling BJP.

The state minister has written to the Motera unit of Asaram Bapu's ashram for celebrating the day in his official letter pad. The purpose of Matru-Pitru Poojan Divas, according to the ashram, is to remember parents with gratitude and worship them instead of getting influenced by western culture. Gujarat BJP Chief Jitu Vaghani's Shocker: 'Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi Breast-Fed Among Commandos' 

In the letter written in Gujarati, Chudasama states, "One who takes care of mother, father and guru himself is respected. Your organisation has started a new initiative to celebrate Matru-Pitru Divas (Mother-Father Day) on February 14, 2019, which is commendable. I wish that this initiative becomes a huge success, and makes boys and girls and young men and women understand their responsibilities towards their parents. I convey my best wishes to your organisation for such a noble act."

Soon after the letter went viral, the minister was criticised for his actions. Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said, as quoted by TOI, "If there is any shame left in the BJP, it should stop giving political asylum to rape convicts for votes. This is the same party that went viral on Asaram and Narayan Rai."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 30, 2019 10:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).