Moral police gear up to dampen V-Day

Valentine’s Day is just days away. Many youngsters are anxiously waiting for the day to express their feelings to their loved ones. But they can always rely on the moral police to play spoilsport. Terming the celebration of Valentine’s Day as an ‘evil western influence’, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is determined to resist the “onslaught on the rich Indian culture”. VHP activists have decided to distribute pamphlets to youngsters in the city urging them to shun the ‘evil’ as it was against Indian culture and traditions.

VHP member PVS Naidu said, “Celebrating Valentine’s Day is not part of Indian tradition. It doesn't have any significance in our history. Indians don't need to celebrate such events which are merely hyped by corporate firms to boost their business. We will create awareness among the youth through posters and pamphlets about its harmful effects on our culture. We are determined to protect youngsters from getting spoiled by the western influence.”

Reading this, one would expect the VHP to go all guns blazing to ‘reprimand’ young couples. But it is the Hindu Mahasabha which is more aggressive than the former in its approach towards V-Day. While the VHP has made it clear that it will not violate the privacy of couples by having them married in public, the Hindu Mahasabha has served an ultimatum to have lovebirds married off should they meet in parks and other public places on Valentine’s Day.

“Couples belonging to the Hindu religion will be married off as per Arya Samaj traditions. Couples hailing from other religions will be forced to enter into wedlock through the purification ritual ‘Shuddhikaran’,” the Mahasabha said.

With such religious fanatics let loose in the city, Valentine’s Day might just turn out to be a dampener.

By: Ch Sowmya Sruthi