Valentine’s day celebrations draws protests in Bhopal:Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal perform ‘Dand Pujan’

Valentine’s Day celebrations in Bhopal have once again sparked protests, with several right-wing organisations voicing opposition to what they call the growing influence of Western culture. The Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad and the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal adopted a strong stance against the occasion, while the Sanskriti Bachao Manch announced the formation of 15 monitoring teams to keep watch over hotels, malls, and parks across the city. ‘Dand Pujan’ held as symbolic protest A day ahead of Valentine’s Day, members of Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal performed a symbolic ‘Dand Pujan’ to register their protest. State minister of the organisation, Rakesh Prajapati, said that in Indian culture, love is associated with dignity and respect, but under Western influence, public obscenity is being promoted. He asserted that such acts would not be tolerated in Bhopal at any cost. He clarified that the organisations are not opposed to genuine love or family values, but to those who, in their view, violate public decorum. Monitoring teams to be deployed across city The organisations have announced that around a dozen teams of the Rashtriya Bajrang Dal will be deployed across major parks, public places, and crowded areas in the city on February 14. They warned that any objectionable activity would be publicly opposed. Hotels warned against special events Meanwhile, the Sanskriti Bachao Manch has cautioned hotel operators against organising special Valentine’s Day events. Office-bearers of the group stated that Indian culture and traditions are the nation’s identity. They appealed to youth to refrain from celebrating Valentine’s Day and instead observe Maha Shivratri the following day by offering prayers to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.