Advertisement billboards across 50 stations of the Delhi Metro are asking people to celebrate "Matri Pitri Pujan Diwas", or Mother-Father Worship Day, on February 14 instead of Valentine's Day, reported The Indian Express. The billboards, which can be spotted at stations on the Yellow and Blue Lines, were put up by a religious group called Bal Sanskar Kendra. The ads endorse police action against couples found displaying affection in public on the day of love. The group has offered to help parents inculcate “achhe sanskar”, or good values, in their children.
The posters show a picture of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu and two contrasting photos: one of children worshiping their parents and another of a couple being punished by the police for celebrating Valentine's Day. Ironically, Asaram Bapu is currently lodged in jail on charges of raping a minor.
The Delhi Metro has ordered an inquiry into the matter after pictures of the billboards were posted on social media and attracted widespread criticism. Though officials said that the ads are likely to be taken down, the Bal Sanskar Kendra members maintained that they had paid for the advertisements to be up until February 14.
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