Indore: Usha Thakur, a newly elected BJP MLA not only attended a bhajan programme organised by jailed godman Asaram Bapu’s followers on New Year’s Eve but also performed an aarti of Asaram’s portrait kept on the dais.

This event took place in Narsingh Vatika, Indore on December 31.

The lady MLA later said: “I know the charges levelled against Asaram. Those who have organised the event are my supporters. I got the invitation for bhajan snadhya and attend such a programme almost every year. It’s nothing unusual.”

She however denied having performed the aarti of the jailed godman kept on the dais.

In the past too, several senior BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh, like Uma Bharati, Kailash Vijayvargiya and Prabhat Jha, have been attending functions organised by Asaram’s supporters and have been issuing statements in the godman’s favour.

A senior BJP leader requesting anonymity however said that Usha Thakur should not have performed aaarti of Asaram Bapu particularly after the party high command had issued a clear cut directive not to publicly associate with the godman any more.

Asaram Bapu is currently in Jodhpur Jail on charge of allegedly raping a minor girl student in his cottage on August 15 night.