Don't ape the West: Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena to Valentine's Day revelers

13 February, 2013

Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena has appealed to youngsters through a press release, its Facebook page and distributions of flyers at Connaught Place in Delhi to avoid celebrating Valentine's Day on February 14. The organisation holds that Valentine's Day is 'against Hindu culture' and 'corrupts' India's youth.

It expressed worries over the festivals "imported" from the west. "Western Culture is responsible for the increasing crimes against women and the rape incidence in December was an outcome of this only," it claimed in the press release.

Today's youth are trying to copy every aspect of western culture blindly, they are diverting from their own roots, their own culture and traditions and the outcome is fierce. Copycats don’t care about their family, relatives or society, added the release on the party's Facebook page.

According to Jai Bhagwan Goyal, Chief of Rashtrawadi Shiv Sena, the wrong policies of the government, foreign companies are taking over the domestic market and to ensure their profits they are promoting these festivals and events. He further added that on Valentine's Day multi-national companies loot money from young consumers, and encourage expensive gifting like cards, flowers, jewellery, chocolates or mobile phones, and many more.

This year, instead of the protests and vigil at parks, restaurants and other places against Valentine's Day revelers, the right-wing groups in Delhi have launched a helpline with the number 011-23616372 for women in distress.