https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/09/india-urges-citizens-to-hug-a-cow-on-valentines-day
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Showing posts with label Valentines Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Valentines Day. Show all posts
February 10, 2023
February 15, 2021
India: BJP ex-MLA among 17 held for V-Day attacks in Bhopal in name of ‘love jihad’
BJP ex-MLA among 17 held for V-Day attacks in name of ‘love jihad’
“Based on the complaint and all those who were identified, we have arrested 17 people, including ex-MLA Surendra Nath Singh,” Bhopal DIG Irshad Wali told The Indian Express.
February 15, 2018
India: Hindutva’s Desperate Attempt to Use Bhagat Singh Against Love
Hindutva’s Desperate Attempt to Use Bhagat Singh Against Love
BY SAURAV KUMAR
ON 14/02/2018
Love
always elevates the character of man. It never lowers him, wrote the
young revolutionary in a letter to his comrade in 1929.
Shaheed Bhagat Singh
Come
Valentine’s Day, and the Hindutva brigade – comprising organisations
such as the Bajrang Dal, Hindu Vahini Sena, Shiv Sena etc – start
gearing up to unleash violence on young couples. In the past few years,
hooliganism has marked this day in every big city and town. The main
reason for this is the Hindutva brigade’s view that Valentine’s Day is
against “our culture and tradition”. However, this vicious campaign is
not limited to ‘tradition’. Fresh efforts are being made by these
organisations to stop Valentine’s Day celebrations by conducting an
orchestrated propaganda linking Valentine’s Day with revolutionary
freedom fighter Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom day.
It
is well known that when it comes to twisting facts, appropriating icons
of India’s freedom movement, such as Bhagat Singh, and even circulating
fake news on social media, none can beat the Hindutva groups. For,
playing around with historical dates and their significance to whip up
hatred mainly works to the advantage of the divisive Hindutva agenda.
Take
the case of Valentine’s Day, which falls on February 14. On the eve of
Valentine’s Day in 2011, some people spread a rumour that the
revolutionary freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were
hanged by the British government on February 14.
The
zealots went on to spread this misinformation through Wikipedia. As The
Hindu reported , “The Wikipedia page on Bhagat Singh underwent many
editing changes on February 13 and 14, Valentine’s Day.” The date of his
hanging had been changed from March 23, 1931, to February 14, 1931. On
Twitter, this misinformation spread like a fire.
The
attempts to change history did not end there. The Shiv Sena (Punjab)
demanded the day be marked as a ‘Black Day’ because freedom fighter
Bhagat Singh was hanged on this day.
Last year,
this propaganda reached a crescendo when an education officer in Pune
passed an order in a school, asking it to observe February 14 as the
martyrdom day of Bhagat Singh and his comrades. The Solapur zilla
parishad education officer (primary) Tanaji Ghadge also issued a letter
to all block education and administrative officers, asking them to
organise a programme in all schools under their jurisdiction on February
14, paying tribute to the martyrs of the freedom struggle, Bhagat
Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru , stating that this was because they were
hanged on this day.
The self-proclaimed
nationalists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bajrang Dal and
other Hindutva groups (followers of Veer Savarkar and M.S. Golwalkar),
are in a state of pain as they don’t have their own icon who gave up his
or her life or made sacrifices during the freedom movement. What lies
behind their zeal to oppose ‘westernised love’ by distorting history is
an attempt to plug their own ideological and political deficit. This is
why they have devised a new game plan since the past decade — to
misinform people and instigate in them hatred against open-minded youth.
In this process, the Hindutva forces are distorting history to hijack
the heroes of the freedom struggle, particularly, young revolutionaries
like Bhagat Singh, by portraying them as agents of Hindu Rashtra.
The
whole world knows that the death warrant for Bhagat Singh was issued on
October 7, 1930, and he was hanged on March 23, 1931.
There is, of course, a wider irony in the Hindutva groups’ disinformation campaign.
In a letter to Sukhdev, dated April 5, 1929, Bhagat Singh wrote, “Love elevates the character of an individual”.
“You
asked me one thing, whether love ever proved helpful to any man. Yes, I
answer that question today. To Mazzini it was. You must have read that
after the utter failure and crushing defeat of his first rising he could
not bear the misery and haunting ideas of his dead comrades. He would
have gone mad or committed suicide but for one letter of a girl he
loved. He would become as strong as any one, nay stronger than all…
“As
regards the moral status of love I may say that it in itself is nothing
but passion, not an animal passion, but a human one – and very sweet
too. Love in itself can never be an animal passion. Love always elevates
the character of man. It never lowers him, provided love be love.”
But,
the insane hatred against Valentine’s Day being whipped up by Hindu
fundamentalists is spreading misinformation among the people with regard
to the country’s proud legacy of sacrifice for love. Bhagat Singh and
his comrades logically advocated the idea of an independent India which
was to be inclusive in nature, with strong bonds of commonality and
rejection of religion in matters related to the state. In simple terms,
they were against the formation of any Hindu rashtra or an Islamic
state.
The distortion of history and facts by
religious zealots, therefore, reposes a greater responsibility on us to
keep alive the ideals for which these revolutionaries lived and died.
February 12, 2016
India: 'No To Valentines Day Ads' Moral Police Using Advertising Billiboard Space Train Platforms for State Run Delhi Subway Train Network
[two news reports are posted below]
The Indian Express
Worship parents on Feb 14, say no to Valentine’s: Ads on Metro
The advertisements by a group called Bal Sanskar Kendra went on to offer “help” and asked parents to send their children to them to inculcate “achhe sanskar” (good values).
By: Express News Service
Delhi
valentines day, valentines day protest, metro ad, valentines metro ad, delhi metro, delhi metro ad, delhi news The advertisements by a group called Bal Sanskar Kendra offer “help” and ask parents to send their children to them to inculcate “achhe sanskar” (good values). Express
When commuters boarded the Delhi Metro Monday, they were greeted by an advertisement campaign of a religious group which proposed celebrating Valentine’s Day as ‘Matri Pitri Pujan Diwas’ and endorsed police action against couples displaying their love in public.
Billboards and posters, put up across stations on the busy Yellow and Blue Lines, drew a sharp contrast between two young children “worshipping” their parents and a file photo of a couple being punished by police for celebrating Valentine’s Day in a public park in Raipur.
The advertisements by a group called Bal Sanskar Kendra went on to offer “help” and asked parents to send their children to them to inculcate “achhe sanskar” (good values).
The “inspiration” for the idea is said to be self-styled godman Asaram Bapu who is lodged in jail in connection with the rape of a minor. Asaram’s picture looms above the two contrasting images with Valentine’s Day struck out in red.
In some other advertisements, children from different communities are seen paying obeisance to their parents.
As pictures of the campaign went viral on social media, Delhi Metro ordered an inquiry into the allotment of the advertisements.
“The Delhi Metro always endeavours to ensure that the advertisements displayed inside the Delhi Metro trains or premises have no objectionable or indecent portrayal of people, products etc. The advertisements were displayed by a private contractor as all the advertising space inside the Delhi Metro premises are allotted to specialised agencies who in turn allot them to interested advertisers. The matter is being thoroughly examined and taken up with the contractor concerned for appropriate necessary action,” Anuj Dayal, Executive Director, Corporate Communications, said.
Officials said that the advertisements are most likely to be pulled down, though members of Bal Sanskar Kendra maintained they had paid for the advertisements to be up until February 14.
“We are not aware of any directive to pull down the advertisements. We have already paid Delhi Metro for this and have put up posters and hoardings across 50 Metro stations, mostly on the busy Yellow and Blue Line for awareness among commuters. We believe the day should be observed as Matri Pitri Pujan Diwas and not Valentine’s Day,” said D N Singh, a functionary of Bal Sanskar Kendra.
“This is already observed in Chhattisgarh and should be done in Delhi too. We have organised a massive gathering at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday where children will come with their parents and we will observe the day. That is our culture,” Singh said.
Ritesh Sharma, a regular commuter, said, “It is ironical that the Delhi Metro, a symbol of development, has such regressive advertisements. When I saw these on my way to work this morning, I was in shock.”
o o o
The Hindustan Times
Worship parents on Feb 14, reject Valentine’s Day: Ads on Delhi Metro
HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Updated: Feb 09, 2016 10:08 IST
Worship your parents this Valentines’ Day, says a series of advertisement billboards put up at Delhi Metro stations by a religious group that batted for police action against couples.
The ads, put up across 35 stations allegedly by an organisation of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, advocating Matri Pitru Pujan Diwas has left commuters enraged, prompting the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to examine the matter. Asaram is in jail in connection with a sexual assault case.
On the posters has a link to the website http://www.mppd.ashram.org/, which claims to be “Inspired by Pujya Asharam Ji Bapu”.
Watch the video of Asaram saying how on Valentine’s Day one should worship one’s parents: https://youtu.be/F0lODJHaPMA
The billboards and posters put up inside the stations show two contrasting frames: one of two children worshipping their parents while the other shows a young couple holding each other’s ears as cops stand near them.
“Police should take strong action against those celebrating Valentine’s Day in broad daylight. Don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day,” the message in the posters says.
According to a DMRC spokesperson, the ads were put by a private contractor. All the ad space inside the Delhi Metro premises is allotted to specialised agencies who allot them to interested advertisers. “The matter is being thoroughly examined and taken up with the contractor concerned for necessary action,” he said.
A DMRC executive said the company followed the Delhi Outdoor Advertising Policy, 2008 and did not have its own policy in this regard.
The Indian Express
Worship parents on Feb 14, say no to Valentine’s: Ads on Metro
The advertisements by a group called Bal Sanskar Kendra went on to offer “help” and asked parents to send their children to them to inculcate “achhe sanskar” (good values).
By: Express News Service
Delhi
valentines day, valentines day protest, metro ad, valentines metro ad, delhi metro, delhi metro ad, delhi news The advertisements by a group called Bal Sanskar Kendra offer “help” and ask parents to send their children to them to inculcate “achhe sanskar” (good values). Express
When commuters boarded the Delhi Metro Monday, they were greeted by an advertisement campaign of a religious group which proposed celebrating Valentine’s Day as ‘Matri Pitri Pujan Diwas’ and endorsed police action against couples displaying their love in public.
Billboards and posters, put up across stations on the busy Yellow and Blue Lines, drew a sharp contrast between two young children “worshipping” their parents and a file photo of a couple being punished by police for celebrating Valentine’s Day in a public park in Raipur.
The advertisements by a group called Bal Sanskar Kendra went on to offer “help” and asked parents to send their children to them to inculcate “achhe sanskar” (good values).
The “inspiration” for the idea is said to be self-styled godman Asaram Bapu who is lodged in jail in connection with the rape of a minor. Asaram’s picture looms above the two contrasting images with Valentine’s Day struck out in red.
In some other advertisements, children from different communities are seen paying obeisance to their parents.
As pictures of the campaign went viral on social media, Delhi Metro ordered an inquiry into the allotment of the advertisements.
“The Delhi Metro always endeavours to ensure that the advertisements displayed inside the Delhi Metro trains or premises have no objectionable or indecent portrayal of people, products etc. The advertisements were displayed by a private contractor as all the advertising space inside the Delhi Metro premises are allotted to specialised agencies who in turn allot them to interested advertisers. The matter is being thoroughly examined and taken up with the contractor concerned for appropriate necessary action,” Anuj Dayal, Executive Director, Corporate Communications, said.
Officials said that the advertisements are most likely to be pulled down, though members of Bal Sanskar Kendra maintained they had paid for the advertisements to be up until February 14.
“We are not aware of any directive to pull down the advertisements. We have already paid Delhi Metro for this and have put up posters and hoardings across 50 Metro stations, mostly on the busy Yellow and Blue Line for awareness among commuters. We believe the day should be observed as Matri Pitri Pujan Diwas and not Valentine’s Day,” said D N Singh, a functionary of Bal Sanskar Kendra.
“This is already observed in Chhattisgarh and should be done in Delhi too. We have organised a massive gathering at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday where children will come with their parents and we will observe the day. That is our culture,” Singh said.
Ritesh Sharma, a regular commuter, said, “It is ironical that the Delhi Metro, a symbol of development, has such regressive advertisements. When I saw these on my way to work this morning, I was in shock.”
o o o
The Hindustan Times
Worship parents on Feb 14, reject Valentine’s Day: Ads on Delhi Metro
HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Updated: Feb 09, 2016 10:08 IST
Worship your parents this Valentines’ Day, says a series of advertisement billboards put up at Delhi Metro stations by a religious group that batted for police action against couples.
The ads, put up across 35 stations allegedly by an organisation of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, advocating Matri Pitru Pujan Diwas has left commuters enraged, prompting the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to examine the matter. Asaram is in jail in connection with a sexual assault case.
On the posters has a link to the website http://www.mppd.ashram.org/, which claims to be “Inspired by Pujya Asharam Ji Bapu”.
Watch the video of Asaram saying how on Valentine’s Day one should worship one’s parents: https://youtu.be/F0lODJHaPMA
The billboards and posters put up inside the stations show two contrasting frames: one of two children worshipping their parents while the other shows a young couple holding each other’s ears as cops stand near them.
“Police should take strong action against those celebrating Valentine’s Day in broad daylight. Don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day,” the message in the posters says.
According to a DMRC spokesperson, the ads were put by a private contractor. All the ad space inside the Delhi Metro premises is allotted to specialised agencies who allot them to interested advertisers. “The matter is being thoroughly examined and taken up with the contractor concerned for necessary action,” he said.
A DMRC executive said the company followed the Delhi Outdoor Advertising Policy, 2008 and did not have its own policy in this regard.
February 14, 2015
India: Demonstration in Delhi outside Hindu Mahasabha office against Mahasabha’s diktat
The Times of India
Demonstration outside Hindu Mahasabha office against Mahasabha’s diktat
Manash Pratim Gohain & Suhas Munshi, TNN | Feb 14, 2015, 05.44 PM IST
NEW DELHI: University students, professionals, locals and foreigners leapt over barricades set up by police and held a demonstration outside the office of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Saturday afternoon.
Police had imposed section 144 prohibiting assembly of more than 10 people in the area outside the office and barricaded either ends of Mandir Marg to prevent protesters from reaching Mahasabha's office.
Over 250 people arrived in the area to demonstrate against Mahasabha's diktat, announced a few days ago, to marry any unmarried couples found outside on Valentine's Day. Police said about 225 people were detained for now, and were to be let off by evening.
Protesters came in waves breaking the police's security cordon at either ends of Mandir Marg. At 12.30 in the afternoon the first batch of students gathering near barricades placed at the intersection of Mandir Marg and Peshwa Road broke through and made a dash for Hindu Mahasabha's office. Another batch of protesters followed them to the spot. A few minutes after they began sloganeering police arrived in large numbers and started hauling them in police buses, as onlookers kept a watch from the first floor of Mahasabha's office. One of the banners protesters waved at Mahasabha's office read 'Who the hell are you to stop me. See. I'm here in my streets.'
Student groups from Delhi University and JNU, including the Students Federation of India (SFI) and Jawaharlal Nehru University's Students Union (JNUSU), had organized Saturday's protest a few days ago on Facebook. That's where, a lot of protesters said, they'd come to know about the event. The idea of the protest, which didn't go as planned, was to reach Hindu Mahasabha's office and offer themselves to Hindu priests to be married. People of various sexual minorities also turned up.
Pallav Dev from Kirori Mal College arrived with Riya from Ambedkar University, both looking for partners to get married to. "We arrived here after getting an invite on Facebook. I planned to look for a boy to get married to and my friend Riya planned to look for a girl," said Dev.
Hindu priests outraged by the brazenness of the protesters weren't amused. "This is not our culture. These people don't have the right to do whatever they want. If they go on this Western path, they'll surely end in misery. We can't allow this," said Madhav Shastri, a priest at a temple run by Hindu Mahasabha. Swami Om, who had gathered notoriety for threatening to shoot Kejriwal, didn't leave the place till he saw the back of the last protestor. "We are not going to allow this culture to go on. I will shoot these people who want to procreate outside on roads."
Demonstration outside Hindu Mahasabha office against Mahasabha’s diktat
Manash Pratim Gohain & Suhas Munshi, TNN | Feb 14, 2015, 05.44 PM IST
NEW DELHI: University students, professionals, locals and foreigners leapt over barricades set up by police and held a demonstration outside the office of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Saturday afternoon.
Police had imposed section 144 prohibiting assembly of more than 10 people in the area outside the office and barricaded either ends of Mandir Marg to prevent protesters from reaching Mahasabha's office.
Over 250 people arrived in the area to demonstrate against Mahasabha's diktat, announced a few days ago, to marry any unmarried couples found outside on Valentine's Day. Police said about 225 people were detained for now, and were to be let off by evening.
Protesters came in waves breaking the police's security cordon at either ends of Mandir Marg. At 12.30 in the afternoon the first batch of students gathering near barricades placed at the intersection of Mandir Marg and Peshwa Road broke through and made a dash for Hindu Mahasabha's office. Another batch of protesters followed them to the spot. A few minutes after they began sloganeering police arrived in large numbers and started hauling them in police buses, as onlookers kept a watch from the first floor of Mahasabha's office. One of the banners protesters waved at Mahasabha's office read 'Who the hell are you to stop me. See. I'm here in my streets.'
Student groups from Delhi University and JNU, including the Students Federation of India (SFI) and Jawaharlal Nehru University's Students Union (JNUSU), had organized Saturday's protest a few days ago on Facebook. That's where, a lot of protesters said, they'd come to know about the event. The idea of the protest, which didn't go as planned, was to reach Hindu Mahasabha's office and offer themselves to Hindu priests to be married. People of various sexual minorities also turned up.
Pallav Dev from Kirori Mal College arrived with Riya from Ambedkar University, both looking for partners to get married to. "We arrived here after getting an invite on Facebook. I planned to look for a boy to get married to and my friend Riya planned to look for a girl," said Dev.
Hindu priests outraged by the brazenness of the protesters weren't amused. "This is not our culture. These people don't have the right to do whatever they want. If they go on this Western path, they'll surely end in misery. We can't allow this," said Madhav Shastri, a priest at a temple run by Hindu Mahasabha. Swami Om, who had gathered notoriety for threatening to shoot Kejriwal, didn't leave the place till he saw the back of the last protestor. "We are not going to allow this culture to go on. I will shoot these people who want to procreate outside on roads."
India: Demonstration outside Hindu Mahasabha office against Mahasabha’s diktat
The Times of India
Demonstration outside Hindu Mahasabha office against Mahasabha’s diktat
Manash Pratim Gohain & Suhas Munshi,TNN | Feb 14, 2015, 05.44 PM IST
NEW DELHI: University students, professionals, locals and foreigners leapt over barricades set up by police and held a demonstration outside the office of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Saturday afternoon.
Police had imposed section 144 prohibiting assembly of more than 10 people in the area outside the office and barricaded either ends of Mandir Marg to prevent protesters from reaching Mahasabha's office.
Over 250 people arrived in the area to demonstrate against Mahasabha's diktat, announced a few days ago, to marry any unmarried couples found outside on Valentine's Day. Police said about 225 people were detained for now, and were to be let off by evening.
Protesters came in waves breaking the police's security cordon at either ends of Mandir Marg. At 12.30 in the afternoon the first batch of students gathering near barricades placed at the intersection of Mandir Marg and Peshwa Road broke through and made a dash for Hindu Mahasabha's office. Another batch of protesters followed them to the spot. A few minutes after they began sloganeering police arrived in large numbers and started hauling them in police buses, as onlookers kept a watch from the first floor of Mahasabha's office. One of the banners protesters waved at Mahasabha's office read 'Who the hell are you to stop me. See. I'm here in my streets.'
Student groups from Delhi University and JNU, including the Students Federation of India (SFI) and Jawaharlal Nehru University's Students Union (JNUSU), had organized Saturday's protest a few days ago on Facebook. That's where, a lot of protesters said, they'd come to know about the event. The idea of the protest, which didn't go as planned, was to reach Hindu Mahasabha's office and offer themselves to Hindu priests to be married. People of various sexual minorities also turned up.
Pallav Dev from Kirori Mal College arrived with Riya from Ambedkar University, both looking for partners to get married to. "We arrived here after getting an invite on Facebook. I planned to look for a boy to get married to and my friend Riya planned to look for a girl," said Dev.
Hindu priests outraged by the brazenness of the protesters weren't amused. "This is not our culture. These people don't have the right to do whatever they want. If they go on this Western path, they'll surely end in misery. We can't allow this," said Madhav Shastri, a priest at a temple run by Hindu Mahasabha. Swami Om, who had gathered notoriety for threatening to shoot Kejriwal, didn't leave the place till he saw the back of the last protestor. "We are not going to allow this culture to go on. I will shoot these people who want to procreate outside on roads."
Demonstration outside Hindu Mahasabha office against Mahasabha’s diktat
Manash Pratim Gohain & Suhas Munshi,TNN | Feb 14, 2015, 05.44 PM IST
NEW DELHI: University students, professionals, locals and foreigners leapt over barricades set up by police and held a demonstration outside the office of Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha on Saturday afternoon.
Police had imposed section 144 prohibiting assembly of more than 10 people in the area outside the office and barricaded either ends of Mandir Marg to prevent protesters from reaching Mahasabha's office.
Over 250 people arrived in the area to demonstrate against Mahasabha's diktat, announced a few days ago, to marry any unmarried couples found outside on Valentine's Day. Police said about 225 people were detained for now, and were to be let off by evening.
Protesters came in waves breaking the police's security cordon at either ends of Mandir Marg. At 12.30 in the afternoon the first batch of students gathering near barricades placed at the intersection of Mandir Marg and Peshwa Road broke through and made a dash for Hindu Mahasabha's office. Another batch of protesters followed them to the spot. A few minutes after they began sloganeering police arrived in large numbers and started hauling them in police buses, as onlookers kept a watch from the first floor of Mahasabha's office. One of the banners protesters waved at Mahasabha's office read 'Who the hell are you to stop me. See. I'm here in my streets.'
Student groups from Delhi University and JNU, including the Students Federation of India (SFI) and Jawaharlal Nehru University's Students Union (JNUSU), had organized Saturday's protest a few days ago on Facebook. That's where, a lot of protesters said, they'd come to know about the event. The idea of the protest, which didn't go as planned, was to reach Hindu Mahasabha's office and offer themselves to Hindu priests to be married. People of various sexual minorities also turned up.
Pallav Dev from Kirori Mal College arrived with Riya from Ambedkar University, both looking for partners to get married to. "We arrived here after getting an invite on Facebook. I planned to look for a boy to get married to and my friend Riya planned to look for a girl," said Dev.
Hindu priests outraged by the brazenness of the protesters weren't amused. "This is not our culture. These people don't have the right to do whatever they want. If they go on this Western path, they'll surely end in misery. We can't allow this," said Madhav Shastri, a priest at a temple run by Hindu Mahasabha. Swami Om, who had gathered notoriety for threatening to shoot Kejriwal, didn't leave the place till he saw the back of the last protestor. "We are not going to allow this culture to go on. I will shoot these people who want to procreate outside on roads."
PDA is in Our Culture. Hindutva Brigade, Take That (Shahshi Tharoor)
Happy Valentine's Day! Assuming, of course, that you're celebrating it, which these days in India is a somewhat risky business. After years of attacking couples holding hands on February 14th, trashing stores selling Valentine's Day greeting cards and shouting slogans outside cafes with canoodling couples, Hindutva activists have changed tactics this year. The Hindu Mahasabha has announced that it will send squads out to catch any unmarried couples out for a tryst today and promptly cart them off to a temple to be married. (And, if Sakshi Maharaj has his way, they will be lectured on the virtues of producing between four and ten children forthwith, in order to give his fantasies a voting majority.)
http://www.ndtv.com/opinion/pda-is-in-our-culture-hindutva-brigade-take-that-739458
http://www.ndtv.com/opinion/pda-is-in-our-culture-hindutva-brigade-take-that-739458
India: Voter lists in hand, Hindu Mahasabha looks for Christians, Muslims on Valentine’s Day
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/voter-lists-in-hand-hindu-mahasabha-looks-for-christians-muslims-on-valentines-day/
February 12, 2015
Valentines Day Unites Bigots from India and Pakistan
Valentine's Day: Here's Hindu Mahasabha's plan to deter youth from public display of affection
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-valentine-s-day-here-s-hindu-mahasabha-s-plan-to-deter-youth-from-public-display-of-affection-2060409
Valentine’s Day highlights Pakistan’s liberal-conservative divide
Religious activists counter Western-style traditions with a ‘Day of Modesty’ to promote their own values
By Sajjad Malik, DPA
http://gulfnews.com/news/world/pakistan/valentine-s-day-highlights-pakistan-s-liberal-conservative-divide-1.1455687
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-valentine-s-day-here-s-hindu-mahasabha-s-plan-to-deter-youth-from-public-display-of-affection-2060409
Valentine’s Day highlights Pakistan’s liberal-conservative divide
Religious activists counter Western-style traditions with a ‘Day of Modesty’ to promote their own values
By Sajjad Malik, DPA
http://gulfnews.com/news/world/pakistan/valentine-s-day-highlights-pakistan-s-liberal-conservative-divide-1.1455687
February 06, 2015
India: Hello Hindu Mahasabha, I just logged on to say I love you (Paromita Vohra)
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/columns/columnists/paromita-vohra/Hello-Hindu-Mahasabha-I-just-logged-on-to-say-I-love-you/articleshow/46137923.cms
Hello Hindu Mahasabha, I just logged on to say I love you
Mumbai Mirror | Feb 6, 2015, 12.00 AM IST
By Paromita Vohra
Shaadi ya Barbaadi?
This cliched question has been raised in countless comedies and bad TV shows, asked by brash young feministish singletons and crass old sexist gents for years.
The Hindu Mahasabha has given it some thought. Their verdict is unambiguous: shaadi=barbaadi.
The Hindu Mahasabha, a group in Meerut, have declared that they will troll, sorry, trawl the streets on Valentine's Day and ensure that any lover-like couple they see is married off (at their expense, I assume). Since they have expressed a generic distaste for relationships of choice, one can only imagine that they think marriage is a punishment and will cure people of love. I have it from good sources that they are not wrong, and in fact may find a deep philosophical support from janta on this count, but not much traction otherwise.
It is true indeed that hate and love are two sides of the same coin. In wanting to hate love, all the protestors, like the Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and the Hindu Mahasabha, have obsessed about it so much that Valentine's Day has become a very important day in their calendar, whatever you and I may feel about it. Irony teri yahi kahani! I found it quite cute when the Bajrang Dal told the press, sniffily, that "we have no Valentine's Day plans this year", as if they've moved on to more mature romantic engagements than candy and cards.
Over the years, the periodic objection from conservative groups to Valentine's Day has begun to suffer from a severe branding problem, though.
Are they against love? Are they against Westernised love? Are they against commodified, and hence, flattened, love (which Valentine's Day most definitely is)? I cannot make out what they feel about love, but one communication is clear: they must be against marriage, because they have decided it is the best punishment for the misdemeanour of love!
A branding problem usually points to the fact that you are out of touch with your market. The Hindu Mahasabha's absurd threat is proof that even as a certain group expresses a strident conservatism, people themselves are today engaged in a surge of romantic and sexual experimentation, a greater confidence in desire and love and a growing belief in choice that isn't going away. In fact several months ago I had written in this column about a temple to Valentine Krishna in Tamil Nadu, where a puja for lovers is carried out on February 14th. People find their own ways to combine where they come from and where they are going to, while forces like the Hindu Mahasabha have the unrealistic desire that we should keep running in one place.
But well, if mummy-daddy are opposed to your shaadi, if you're gay and believe in marriage, if you can't afford a wedding - all you gotta do is take a walk on the mild side, holding hands and waving a heart shaped balloon this Valentine's Day and your wedding should be taken care of.
In a show of tech-savviness, they have also instated an online vigilance division who will ensure the marriage of all those sending out messages resembling, I Love You, ILU ILU, Luv to Luv U on social media. Therefore do make sure that this Valentine's Day each of you sends out such messages to at least 10 such people and ask them to send it out to another 10 people. No no - it's not to confuse the Hindu Mahasabha. It's just that, maybe, polyamory will finally get the blessings of mainstream tradition. Jai Shri Valentine Krishna.
Hello Hindu Mahasabha, I just logged on to say I love you
Mumbai Mirror | Feb 6, 2015, 12.00 AM IST
By Paromita Vohra
Shaadi ya Barbaadi?
This cliched question has been raised in countless comedies and bad TV shows, asked by brash young feministish singletons and crass old sexist gents for years.
The Hindu Mahasabha has given it some thought. Their verdict is unambiguous: shaadi=barbaadi.
The Hindu Mahasabha, a group in Meerut, have declared that they will troll, sorry, trawl the streets on Valentine's Day and ensure that any lover-like couple they see is married off (at their expense, I assume). Since they have expressed a generic distaste for relationships of choice, one can only imagine that they think marriage is a punishment and will cure people of love. I have it from good sources that they are not wrong, and in fact may find a deep philosophical support from janta on this count, but not much traction otherwise.
It is true indeed that hate and love are two sides of the same coin. In wanting to hate love, all the protestors, like the Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and the Hindu Mahasabha, have obsessed about it so much that Valentine's Day has become a very important day in their calendar, whatever you and I may feel about it. Irony teri yahi kahani! I found it quite cute when the Bajrang Dal told the press, sniffily, that "we have no Valentine's Day plans this year", as if they've moved on to more mature romantic engagements than candy and cards.
Over the years, the periodic objection from conservative groups to Valentine's Day has begun to suffer from a severe branding problem, though.
Are they against love? Are they against Westernised love? Are they against commodified, and hence, flattened, love (which Valentine's Day most definitely is)? I cannot make out what they feel about love, but one communication is clear: they must be against marriage, because they have decided it is the best punishment for the misdemeanour of love!
A branding problem usually points to the fact that you are out of touch with your market. The Hindu Mahasabha's absurd threat is proof that even as a certain group expresses a strident conservatism, people themselves are today engaged in a surge of romantic and sexual experimentation, a greater confidence in desire and love and a growing belief in choice that isn't going away. In fact several months ago I had written in this column about a temple to Valentine Krishna in Tamil Nadu, where a puja for lovers is carried out on February 14th. People find their own ways to combine where they come from and where they are going to, while forces like the Hindu Mahasabha have the unrealistic desire that we should keep running in one place.
But well, if mummy-daddy are opposed to your shaadi, if you're gay and believe in marriage, if you can't afford a wedding - all you gotta do is take a walk on the mild side, holding hands and waving a heart shaped balloon this Valentine's Day and your wedding should be taken care of.
In a show of tech-savviness, they have also instated an online vigilance division who will ensure the marriage of all those sending out messages resembling, I Love You, ILU ILU, Luv to Luv U on social media. Therefore do make sure that this Valentine's Day each of you sends out such messages to at least 10 such people and ask them to send it out to another 10 people. No no - it's not to confuse the Hindu Mahasabha. It's just that, maybe, polyamory will finally get the blessings of mainstream tradition. Jai Shri Valentine Krishna.
February 04, 2015
India: Couples out on Valentine’s Day will be married off threatens Hindu Mahasabha
The Times of India
Couples out on V-Day will be married off: Hindu Mahasabha
Ishita Mishra & Ishita Bhatia,TNN | Feb 3, 2015, 10.05 PM IST
With ten days to go for Valentine’s Day, Hindutva outfits active in western UP have warned that couples found celebrating the “foreign festival” in public will face a variety of punishments.
AGRA/MEERUT: With ten days to go for Valentine's Day, Hindutva outfits active in western UP have warned that couples found celebrating the "foreign festival" in public will face a variety of punishments. While a prompt Arya Samaj wedding will be forced on Hindu couples, inter-faith partners will have to sit through a "shuddhikaran" (purification) ritual, the Hindu Mahasabha has said. What's more, couples caught with roses in hands and those who sit in corners and hug each other at malls and parks will be prime targets.
Talking to TOI, the Mahasabha national president, Chandra Prakash Kaushik, said, "India is a country where all 365 days are days for love, why then must couples observe only February 14 as Valentine's Day?"
This year, the couples who claim to be in love will have to pass our marriage test, Kaushik warned. "We are not against love, but if a couple is in love then they must get married. In case if the couples claim that they need time to think about marriage, we will tell them that if they are not certain, they should belittle love by openly going around together. We will also inform their parents," added Kaushik.
The group, in news recently for both 'ghar wapsi' and the bid to install a Godse bust in Meerut, has reportedly established several teams in west UP and even the national capital to identify "guilty" couples.
Mahesh Chandana, a Mahasabha representative from Agra, said the organization welcomes inter-faith marriages since "all residents of India are Hindus". "Hence, the weddings (of couples caught on Valentine's Day) will be preceded by shuddhikaran," he said.
Interestingly, Bajrang Dal, another Hindu outfit known to take a similar stand on February 14 festivities, has decided to take a break this year. Bajrang Dal leader Ajju Chauhan who was in news when Agra's Queen Victoria statues were vandalized, said the group "will not do anything on Valentine's Day" this year. "We have our Hindu Sammelan on February 15 and we are busy with that. Hence, no plans for V-day this year," Chauhan crisply added.
The Mahasabha's Meerut chapter, meanwhile, has said that it was more important to conduct ghar wapsi of secular Hindus. "The secular Hindus (who celebrate Valentine's Day) should be converted to Hinduism completely so that they stop believing in the existence of any other religion," said Pandit Ashok Sharma, a central working body member of the Mahasabha from Meerut.
Kaushik is reportedly visiting Meerut on Wednesday to finalize the plans. "He will visit Meerut on Wednesday and only then will we be able to talk at length about our February 14 plans. But ours is a democratic organization and everyone's views have an equal value. According to me, instead of forcing the non-Hindu partner to convert to Hindu religion, the boy should convert even if he is a Muslim. Why should only girls sacrifice their religion?" said Bharat Rajput, the Meerut mahanagar president.
Reacting to the comments, SSP Agra Rajesh Modak D Rao said the police will be active and will ensure nothing untoward happens to anyone.
Couples out on V-Day will be married off: Hindu Mahasabha
Ishita Mishra & Ishita Bhatia,TNN | Feb 3, 2015, 10.05 PM IST
With ten days to go for Valentine’s Day, Hindutva outfits active in western UP have warned that couples found celebrating the “foreign festival” in public will face a variety of punishments.
AGRA/MEERUT: With ten days to go for Valentine's Day, Hindutva outfits active in western UP have warned that couples found celebrating the "foreign festival" in public will face a variety of punishments. While a prompt Arya Samaj wedding will be forced on Hindu couples, inter-faith partners will have to sit through a "shuddhikaran" (purification) ritual, the Hindu Mahasabha has said. What's more, couples caught with roses in hands and those who sit in corners and hug each other at malls and parks will be prime targets.
Talking to TOI, the Mahasabha national president, Chandra Prakash Kaushik, said, "India is a country where all 365 days are days for love, why then must couples observe only February 14 as Valentine's Day?"
This year, the couples who claim to be in love will have to pass our marriage test, Kaushik warned. "We are not against love, but if a couple is in love then they must get married. In case if the couples claim that they need time to think about marriage, we will tell them that if they are not certain, they should belittle love by openly going around together. We will also inform their parents," added Kaushik.
The group, in news recently for both 'ghar wapsi' and the bid to install a Godse bust in Meerut, has reportedly established several teams in west UP and even the national capital to identify "guilty" couples.
Mahesh Chandana, a Mahasabha representative from Agra, said the organization welcomes inter-faith marriages since "all residents of India are Hindus". "Hence, the weddings (of couples caught on Valentine's Day) will be preceded by shuddhikaran," he said.
Interestingly, Bajrang Dal, another Hindu outfit known to take a similar stand on February 14 festivities, has decided to take a break this year. Bajrang Dal leader Ajju Chauhan who was in news when Agra's Queen Victoria statues were vandalized, said the group "will not do anything on Valentine's Day" this year. "We have our Hindu Sammelan on February 15 and we are busy with that. Hence, no plans for V-day this year," Chauhan crisply added.
The Mahasabha's Meerut chapter, meanwhile, has said that it was more important to conduct ghar wapsi of secular Hindus. "The secular Hindus (who celebrate Valentine's Day) should be converted to Hinduism completely so that they stop believing in the existence of any other religion," said Pandit Ashok Sharma, a central working body member of the Mahasabha from Meerut.
Kaushik is reportedly visiting Meerut on Wednesday to finalize the plans. "He will visit Meerut on Wednesday and only then will we be able to talk at length about our February 14 plans. But ours is a democratic organization and everyone's views have an equal value. According to me, instead of forcing the non-Hindu partner to convert to Hindu religion, the boy should convert even if he is a Muslim. Why should only girls sacrifice their religion?" said Bharat Rajput, the Meerut mahanagar president.
Reacting to the comments, SSP Agra Rajesh Modak D Rao said the police will be active and will ensure nothing untoward happens to anyone.
February 17, 2014
India:: Valentine’s Day 2014: Bajrang Dal, VHP activists throw rotten tomatoes on couples in Modi's Gujarat
The Hindu
Ahmedabad, February 14, 2014
Ahmedabad, February 14, 2014
Updated: February 14, 2014 16:58 IST
Valentine’s Day: Bajrang Dal, VHP activists throw rotten tomatoes on couples
The Hindu
Bajrang Dal activists burn an effigy representing Valentine's Day during
a protest in Hyderabad on Friday. Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad
activists have been organising campaigns all over India to 'educate'
students and others about obscene celebration of the day. Photo:
G.Ramakrishna
VHP and Bajrang Dal organised programmes in Ahmedabad to protest "indecent" celebration of Valentine's day
Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists on Friday threw
rotten tomatoes at couples celebrating Valentine’s Day on the banks of
Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad. Couples were seen running to save
themselves when a large group of Bajrang Dal workers suddenly thronged
the place and started throwing tomatoes at them. Some of them tried to
escape in their vehicles while others ran for cover. No complaint has
been lodged with the police so far in connection with the incident.
Hundreds of couples were present at the Sabarmati riverfront on Friday
morning to celebrate Valentine’s Day. VHP and Bajrang Dal organised
programmes in the city to protest “indecent” celebration of the day.
Bajrang Dal city president Jwalit Mehta, who led the charge, told PTI
that they had been going to colleges in various parts of the city over
the last few days to "educate" students about the negative influences of
imbibing western traditions and aspects of their culture.
“Many students supported our endeavour. But, many had thronged the
riverfront today. We threw rotten tomatoes at them and they ran away
from there,” Mr.Mehta said. “There is nothing wrong in imbibing positive
aspects of western culture, but VHP and Bajrang Dal are against
obscenity in the name of westernisation. Valentine’s Day is one such
obscene celebration,” he said.
Later, the activists burnt Valentine’s Day cards on the same venue.
February 14, 2014
February 11, 2014
February 15, 2013
Hyderabad: Right-wing organisations shock foreign students on Valentine’s Day
From: New Indian Express
VHP threat scares off foreigners
By Yunus Lasania | ENS - HYDERABAD
15th February 2013 08:46 AM
While Hyderabadis may be used to the hullabulloo usually made by right-wing organisations on Valentine’s Day, it was a first for many foreign students studying in the city.
They were in for a rude shock when they were advised not to venture out with their special ones on Thursday because threats had been made by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal that any couple who express their love openly would be made to marry.
R Noori, an Afghanistani student studying in the English and Foreign Language University (EFLU), was looking forward to spending the day with his girlfriend, but was dissuaded at the last minute. “Even in Afghanistan you will find a lot of couples out on this day. No one told me about this until Thursday, else I would have made alternative plans,” he fumed. Melina Luis, a student from Peru, said she had never heard of such threats in her country.
“This is absurd. I thought Indian society was democratic and open. This is more like censorship in the guise of culture,” she said.
Others echoed similar views. Saif Safar, a student of mass communication from Tajikistan at EFLU, said that Feb 14 is a special day in his country. “In 1989-90, when the Soviet Union officially disbanded and my country attained freedom, there was a lot of bloodshed. The day is celebrated as a day of love and remembrance,” he explained, adding in his country, people do not take offence to couples celebrating V-day.
“Since there were a lot of Russians in my country earlier, their culture always remained. But this sort of moral policing is totally uncalled for. Everyone should be able to go out if they want to,” he said.
Lu Xiang, a Chinese student studying in OU, found it funny that Indians, who try to westernise themselves in so many ways, take offence to people celebrating Valentine’s Day. “My friend told me that some people harass couples on Valentine’s Day because they feel it is offensive to Indian culture,” she said.
VHP threat scares off foreigners
By Yunus Lasania | ENS - HYDERABAD
15th February 2013 08:46 AM
While Hyderabadis may be used to the hullabulloo usually made by right-wing organisations on Valentine’s Day, it was a first for many foreign students studying in the city.
They were in for a rude shock when they were advised not to venture out with their special ones on Thursday because threats had been made by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal that any couple who express their love openly would be made to marry.
R Noori, an Afghanistani student studying in the English and Foreign Language University (EFLU), was looking forward to spending the day with his girlfriend, but was dissuaded at the last minute. “Even in Afghanistan you will find a lot of couples out on this day. No one told me about this until Thursday, else I would have made alternative plans,” he fumed. Melina Luis, a student from Peru, said she had never heard of such threats in her country.
“This is absurd. I thought Indian society was democratic and open. This is more like censorship in the guise of culture,” she said.
Others echoed similar views. Saif Safar, a student of mass communication from Tajikistan at EFLU, said that Feb 14 is a special day in his country. “In 1989-90, when the Soviet Union officially disbanded and my country attained freedom, there was a lot of bloodshed. The day is celebrated as a day of love and remembrance,” he explained, adding in his country, people do not take offence to couples celebrating V-day.
“Since there were a lot of Russians in my country earlier, their culture always remained. But this sort of moral policing is totally uncalled for. Everyone should be able to go out if they want to,” he said.
Lu Xiang, a Chinese student studying in OU, found it funny that Indians, who try to westernise themselves in so many ways, take offence to people celebrating Valentine’s Day. “My friend told me that some people harass couples on Valentine’s Day because they feel it is offensive to Indian culture,” she said.
February 14, 2013
India: Saffron activists forcibly marry off couples celebrating Valentine's Day
Hindustan Times
Saffron activists forcibly marry off couples celebrating Valentine's Day
PTI
Hyderabad, February 14, 2013
Saffron activists on Thursday forced young men and women who celebrated Valentine's Day to get "married" and held demonstrations in Andhra Pradesh.
They forced young men marry their beloved when couples were spotted together in public places at Hyderabad and other parts of the state.
At other places, Bajrang Dal, VHP and other saffron outfits held rallies condemning celebration of Valentine's Day.
These organisations had already announced that they would "counsel" boys and girls, if they are minors, and not hesitate to perform "marriages" if couples are majors.
Meanwhile, the authorities in Hyderabad on Thursday kept major parks here like Krishna Kant Park and others closed as a "precautionary measure".
The city police warned that they would take action against those who try to take law into their hands.
Saffron activists forcibly marry off couples celebrating Valentine's Day
PTI
Hyderabad, February 14, 2013
Saffron activists on Thursday forced young men and women who celebrated Valentine's Day to get "married" and held demonstrations in Andhra Pradesh.
They forced young men marry their beloved when couples were spotted together in public places at Hyderabad and other parts of the state.
At other places, Bajrang Dal, VHP and other saffron outfits held rallies condemning celebration of Valentine's Day.
These organisations had already announced that they would "counsel" boys and girls, if they are minors, and not hesitate to perform "marriages" if couples are majors.
Meanwhile, the authorities in Hyderabad on Thursday kept major parks here like Krishna Kant Park and others closed as a "precautionary measure".
The city police warned that they would take action against those who try to take law into their hands.
February 13, 2012
Jammu Bajrang Dal Demo Against Valentines Day
From: ibnlive.in.com
Anti V-Day demonstrations in Jammu
PTI | 06:02 PM,Feb 13,2012
Jammu, Feb 13 (PTI) The Bajrang Dal, a hardline Hindu outfit, today burnt Valentine cards and held demonstrations in the city asking youths not to celebrate the V-Day terming it as a manifestation of western culture. Over 100 Bajrang Dal activists, chanting slogans, held protests in the city and burnt Valentine cards. Bajrang Dal leader Ankur asked the youths in Jammu and Kashmir not to celebrate the V-Day which, he said, was a manifestation of western culture. Dal activists would keep a strict watch on restaurants, hotels, parks, theatres and shops tomorrow and those found indulging in vulgar behaviour would not be spared, the Bajrang Dal leader said.
Anti V-Day demonstrations in Jammu
PTI | 06:02 PM,Feb 13,2012
Jammu, Feb 13 (PTI) The Bajrang Dal, a hardline Hindu outfit, today burnt Valentine cards and held demonstrations in the city asking youths not to celebrate the V-Day terming it as a manifestation of western culture. Over 100 Bajrang Dal activists, chanting slogans, held protests in the city and burnt Valentine cards. Bajrang Dal leader Ankur asked the youths in Jammu and Kashmir not to celebrate the V-Day which, he said, was a manifestation of western culture. Dal activists would keep a strict watch on restaurants, hotels, parks, theatres and shops tomorrow and those found indulging in vulgar behaviour would not be spared, the Bajrang Dal leader said.
February 14, 2009
VHP thugs ransack Bokaro Post office for selling valentines day cards
The Telegraph
VHP V-Day rage singes post office
by Shashank Shekhar
The ransacked head post office in Bokaro. Picture by Pankaj Singh
Bokaro, Feb. 12: More than a dozen activists of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) went on the rampage at the recently upgraded head post office of Bokaro steel city in Sector II today in protest against the sale of Valentine’s Day cards.
Hurling a volley of abuses, the protesters damaged property worth thousand of rupees, injuring an employee in the process.
The employees immediately informed the police, who rushed to the spot and managed to arrest three VHP leaders while the rest fled. The arrested have been identified as Vinod Ojha, Virendra Kumar Singh and Arjun Singh.
Sources said that around 12.30pm, a group of VHP workers suddenly barged into the post office. “They demanded to know why Valentine’s Day cards were being sold at counter number IX instead of revenue stamps. Shouting slogans, they went on the rampage, shattering the counter glasses and forcing the customers and employees to run for cover,” said an eye witness.
Shashi Das, who was sitting at counter number IX, tried to ward off the youths when a huge chunk of glass hit him on his head. He was rushed to a nursing home. His condition was stated to be stable.
Hearing the commotion, acting postmaster Laldeo Singh rushed in to pacify the youths. He said that they were only following government rules. But the youths did not pay any heed to Singh’s pleas. They continued with the rampage till the police arrived.
Later, the employees of the post office lodged an FIR against the activists at City police station for causing obstruction in government job and attacking government employees. The post office was modernised and reopened on January 23 this year
Singh told TheTelegraph that there was nothing abnormal in selling Valentine’s Day cards. “The VHP workers attacked the office for reasons best known to them,” he said.
Officer in-charge of City police station Ratan Deo Singh said: “We have arrested three persons for ransacking the post office, forcefully stopping work there and injuring an employee. We have decided to depute a police team at the post office to avert such incidents in the future.”
VHP V-Day rage singes post office
by Shashank Shekhar
The ransacked head post office in Bokaro. Picture by Pankaj Singh
Bokaro, Feb. 12: More than a dozen activists of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) went on the rampage at the recently upgraded head post office of Bokaro steel city in Sector II today in protest against the sale of Valentine’s Day cards.
Hurling a volley of abuses, the protesters damaged property worth thousand of rupees, injuring an employee in the process.
The employees immediately informed the police, who rushed to the spot and managed to arrest three VHP leaders while the rest fled. The arrested have been identified as Vinod Ojha, Virendra Kumar Singh and Arjun Singh.
Sources said that around 12.30pm, a group of VHP workers suddenly barged into the post office. “They demanded to know why Valentine’s Day cards were being sold at counter number IX instead of revenue stamps. Shouting slogans, they went on the rampage, shattering the counter glasses and forcing the customers and employees to run for cover,” said an eye witness.
Shashi Das, who was sitting at counter number IX, tried to ward off the youths when a huge chunk of glass hit him on his head. He was rushed to a nursing home. His condition was stated to be stable.
Hearing the commotion, acting postmaster Laldeo Singh rushed in to pacify the youths. He said that they were only following government rules. But the youths did not pay any heed to Singh’s pleas. They continued with the rampage till the police arrived.
Later, the employees of the post office lodged an FIR against the activists at City police station for causing obstruction in government job and attacking government employees. The post office was modernised and reopened on January 23 this year
Singh told TheTelegraph that there was nothing abnormal in selling Valentine’s Day cards. “The VHP workers attacked the office for reasons best known to them,” he said.
Officer in-charge of City police station Ratan Deo Singh said: “We have arrested three persons for ransacking the post office, forcefully stopping work there and injuring an employee. We have decided to depute a police team at the post office to avert such incidents in the future.”
February 12, 2009
Say NO to the 'Morality Police'! (AISA and AIPWA protest on Feb 13/14 in Delhi)
AISA and AIPWA organised protest on Valentine's day in Delhi.
Say NO to the 'Morality Police'!
On February 13, on the eve of VALENTINE'S DAY
Join
Rajendra Yadav, Arundhati Roy, teachers and students of DU, Jamia Millia, JNU, activists of cultural and women's groups
to Celebrate 'Love in Our Times'
with poetry, music, readings
Vivekananda Statue, Arts Faculty, Delhi University, 12 noon
and
On February 14,
Gather to Celebrate Our Right to Live and Love in Freedom!
Come with Banners, Placards, Songs, Skits
to march at public spaces in and around the North Campus and Kamla Nagar market
Assemble at Vivekananda Statue, Arts Faculty, Delhi University, 11 am
Dear friends,
The Sangh's moral police brigade has been intensifying its assault on individual liberties and particularly on women's freedoms. The assault in the Mangalore pub was the latest in the series of attacks by the Sanghi Taliban – many of them on friendships and relationships (especially inter-religious ones) between women and men, on women's freedom to interact with men in public spaces (not just pubs, but even schools, colleges, buses, streets, restaurants etc...). More sinister is the fact that even leaders of the Congress, Chief Ministers of several states and worst of all, a member of the NCW, also lent their voice to the Sangh-inspired smokescreen of the imagined dangers of 'pub culture,' 'women wearing semi-nude clothing' and 'boys and girls walking hand in hand.'
These assaults in the name of 'morality,' of course, resonate with many other attacks in our society – the killings of inter-caste couples in the name of 'honour', the tragedies of same-sex couples committing suicide, the draconian Article 377 in our law books, the many voices that, when a woman is raped, declare that she herself – thanks to her clothes, her lifestyle, her being at the 'wrong place, wrong time' – is guilty...
This Valentine's Day, as the saffron brigade openly declares its agenda of vandalism and violence, we hope you'll join us for some defiant celebration – of our right to live and love freely, of freedom of expression and women's hard-won rights, of all our ongoing struggles for a better, freer world.
All India Students' Association (AISA)
All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA)
Contact: Pooja, AISA DU, (9968321240),
Kavita, AIPWA, (9868112252)
Say NO to the 'Morality Police'!
On February 13, on the eve of VALENTINE'S DAY
Join
Rajendra Yadav, Arundhati Roy, teachers and students of DU, Jamia Millia, JNU, activists of cultural and women's groups
to Celebrate 'Love in Our Times'
with poetry, music, readings
Vivekananda Statue, Arts Faculty, Delhi University, 12 noon
and
On February 14,
Gather to Celebrate Our Right to Live and Love in Freedom!
Come with Banners, Placards, Songs, Skits
to march at public spaces in and around the North Campus and Kamla Nagar market
Assemble at Vivekananda Statue, Arts Faculty, Delhi University, 11 am
Dear friends,
The Sangh's moral police brigade has been intensifying its assault on individual liberties and particularly on women's freedoms. The assault in the Mangalore pub was the latest in the series of attacks by the Sanghi Taliban – many of them on friendships and relationships (especially inter-religious ones) between women and men, on women's freedom to interact with men in public spaces (not just pubs, but even schools, colleges, buses, streets, restaurants etc...). More sinister is the fact that even leaders of the Congress, Chief Ministers of several states and worst of all, a member of the NCW, also lent their voice to the Sangh-inspired smokescreen of the imagined dangers of 'pub culture,' 'women wearing semi-nude clothing' and 'boys and girls walking hand in hand.'
These assaults in the name of 'morality,' of course, resonate with many other attacks in our society – the killings of inter-caste couples in the name of 'honour', the tragedies of same-sex couples committing suicide, the draconian Article 377 in our law books, the many voices that, when a woman is raped, declare that she herself – thanks to her clothes, her lifestyle, her being at the 'wrong place, wrong time' – is guilty...
This Valentine's Day, as the saffron brigade openly declares its agenda of vandalism and violence, we hope you'll join us for some defiant celebration – of our right to live and love freely, of freedom of expression and women's hard-won rights, of all our ongoing struggles for a better, freer world.
All India Students' Association (AISA)
All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA)
Contact: Pooja, AISA DU, (9968321240),
Kavita, AIPWA, (9868112252)
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