Bangaloreans gird up to ward off V-Day killjoys

Bangaloreans gird up to ward off V-Day killjoys
Mutalik Firm On Thwarting The Celebrations
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: The fuss over Valentine’s Day celebration by the self-styled moral police appears to be getting on Bangalore’s nerves. Clearly unwilling to let themselves face a culture shock of sorts by spoilsports of the Sri Rama Sene who have threatened to ruin the celebrations, youth wings of many parties and student leaders vowed to keep the city safe and peaceful on February 14.
As expected, on Wednesday afternoon, Rashtriya Hindu Sena chief Pramod Mutalik went into a huddle with his band of supporters and declared war on what he called “anti-Indian” practices. The Sene asked the government, heads of educational institutions and the police to discourage this “Christian practice of celebrating Valentine’s Day’’.
Asked what the Sene would do if the government fails to heed to their demand, Mutalik said: “That question would arise only after government or police fails to stall the Valentine’s Day celebrations.’’
Progressive voices said they would take on the Sene and not allow them to intimidate students. Who are these people to decide what others should do, they asked. On its part, the ruling BJP said though Valentine’s Day was not our culture, it would not oppose it. The government did not seem to have any new plan of action to counter Sene’s threat.
LOVE SUCKS? RUBBISH, SAY MANY...
We will confront them by coming out with our members. The Citizens for Secular Society (CSS) will contact colleges and ask them not to be intimidated by the Sene. When did our culture say that one should not celebrate love? If Mutalik says Valentine’s Day is akin to Christian culture, in ancient Hindu culture, loving someone was not a crime. It was a more liberal society than the Victorian era. CSS will not let Bangalore go the Mangalore way, we have a strategy in place. — Rajesh Gundu Rao and Milind Dharmasen | CSS FUNCTIONARIES

Rama Sene unveils MARRIAGE operandi
Those guys and gals exhibiting public display of affection on Valentine’s Day, beware. At a meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Sri Rama Sene leader Pramod Mutalik, Sene decided to arrange marriage between dating couples. For that, it has formed five teams. They will roam around Bangalore with a video camera and turmeric stub. If they find young couples dating, they will force them to wed on the spot. “The couples will be taken to a sub-registrar’s office to solemnize the marriage,’’ T S Vasanth Kumar Bhavani, Sene’s Bangalore city president, told TOI.


We’ll kick them and
hand them to the cops
Who are these people to decide what others should do? There’s no reason to impose his (Mutalik’s) culture on others. The world over, youngsters have found their own way of expressing their freedom. As long as they are not disturbing and coming in the way of others, they can do it. Valentine’s Day, again, is a way of expressing freedom. We won’t let these groups dictate what others should do. We won’t take the law into our hands, but if they try to disrupt peace, we’ll kick them and hand them over to the police.
— Agni Sridhar | WRITER


If Mutalik tries to stop Valentine’s Day, I will take him on. Mutalik is not a married man. He would not know what to do, that is his problem. If Mutalik keeps talking the way he has been, I might just land up there (Bangalore) on February 14. He should be careful. — Renuka Chowdhury | MINISTER
FOR WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT