MP readies guns and roses for V-Day

Bhopal: Even as the Hindu rightwing Bajrang Dal gains support from a Muslim group to oppose Valentine's Day celebrations in Madhya Pradesh, it faces women's groups vowing to protect young lovers from such moral policing.

A voluntary group of Muslims headed by Maulana Anis S Ahmad has appealed to people not to celebrate western festivals, but to follow Indian culture.

"We urge the youngsters not to be influenced by western culture," said Ahmed, who, however, discouraged the use of force to stop anyone from celebrating the day.

Two women's groups, belonging to the Sawarna Samaaj Party (SSP) and the Rashtriya Secular Manch (RSM), have decided to take on those threatening to oppose Valentine's Day celebrations in the state, ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

If the SSP is threatening Bajrang Dal members with a mace (lord Hanuman's weapon), the RSM has decided to form baton-wielding groups of women to dissuade Bajrang Dal activists from disrupting lovers on Wednesday.

"These women will provide the necessary security to citizens if the state government fails to do so," said RSM convenor Chandna Arora. "We will follow the Bajrang Dal workers on February 14 to prevent them from misbehaving with lovers."

The Congress' student wing National Students' Union of India (NSUI) has also decided to oppose "any act of the Bajrangis".

"NSUI workers would first give roses to Bajrang Dal workers while requesting them not to disturb anyone. Then they would inform the police in case anyone is harassed and lastly take the law into their own hands if the police fails to act," said NSUI state secretary Abhay Kushal Tiwari.

The NSUI has formed teams to defend lovers in case of harassment and even launched a helpline.

State officials said police forces had been deployed in hotels, restaurants and picnic spots across the state in view of the warning.

"We will not let anyone interfere in the personal freedom of a person. Action will be taken against anybody trying to violate the law," said superintendent of police Anant Kumar Singh in Bhopal.

The Hindutva campaign against amour will be carried on by a vivah rath (marriage chariot) manned by activists of Dharma Sena and Durga Vahini - two Hindu organisations.

"We will catch hold of couples meeting in public places, parks and restaurants and get them married. If they will not marry, the girl will have to tie a rakhi (a thread on the wrist establishing brother-sister relation)," said Bajrang Dal leader Rajendra Gupta.

"The couples will be more afraid of marriage than a scolding, beating or blackened faces," he said, adding that after the marriage the boys and girls would be handed over to their family members.

Notwithstanding such threats, youngsters are thronging gift stores for cards, chocolates and stuffed toys for their valentine.