Hard-line Hindus burned cardboard cut-outs of hearts on the eve of Valentineâs Day in the western Indian city of Bombay, promising to stop lovers from marking the Christian saintâs day. Radical Hindu groups across India have set fire to Valentineâs cards and threatened to blacken the faces of couples celebrating Feb. 14, which honors a third-century martyr considered the patron saint of lovers. "We condemn Valentineâs Day. Down with Western culture," shouted more than two dozen activists of the Hindu Shiv Sena party, carrying saffron flags and placards while protesting in front of a prominent city college.
| "We don't like anybody, and we forbid anybody else from doing so!" |
"We will not allow Valentineâs Day to be celebrated. Be warned or else wait and watch Saturday," threatened Bal Thackeray, firebrand chief of the Bombay-based ultra nationalist Shiv Sena, in his party newspaper "Saamna." Three years ago Thackeray called for a complete ban on Valentineâs Day. He has said the celebration is "cultural corruption" which offends Indian social values.
| These social values, of course, disallow male-female affection. They're against roses. They're against chocolate. They're against kissing. They're against hugging. They're against full, rounded bosoms, the well-turned derriere, smooth, inviting thighs... I think I might see why they're so irritable. |
Hard-line Hindu groups such as Shiv Sena, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have in the past ransacked gift shops, burned cards and stopped celebrations. City police tightened security around several stores crowded with customers buying red balloons, cards and gifts to mark the occasion. But students at the college where the protest took place were unfazed by the threats. "Valentineâs Day is the only day you can express love. If you ban this day, then there will be no love in this world," said student Gordon Rodrigues, who plans to woo his girlfriend with a ring, a card and red roses.
âDonât the extremists have anything better to do than protest Valentines day.â 
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