INDIA-VALENTINES DAY CELEBRATION India celebrates Valentine's Day amid threats from right wing Hindu groups

Record ID: 1377121

  • Title: INDIA-VALENTINES DAY CELEBRATION India celebrates Valentine's Day amid threats from right wing Hindu groups
  • Date: 14th February 2015
  • Summary: YADAV FELICITATING A STUDENT (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) CHIEF MINISTER OF INDIA'S NORTHERN STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH, AKHILESH YADAV, SAYING: "The world knows today as a day of love but for us it is Taj Day and we must do something related to Taj Mahal on this day." KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (FEBRUARY 14, 2015) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) MEMBERS OF ALL INDIA STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION (AISA) MARCHING CLOSE OF AN EFFIGY OF CHIEF OF HINDU NATIONALIST ORGANISATION RASHTRIYA SWAYAMSEVAK SANGH, MOHAN BHAGWAT CLOSE OF A MEMBER OF ALL INDIA STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION (AISA), AUROMITA MITRA, SHOUTING SLOGANS CLOSE OF A PLACARD DEMANDING 'LOVE AZADI' (FREEDOM TO LOVE) PROTESTERS WALKING HOLDING BANNERS PROTESTERS SHOUTING SLOGANS MORE OF PROTESTERS WAKLING HOLDING BANNERS CLOSE OF PLACARDS PROTESTERS SETTING FIRE TO AN EFFIGY OF BHAGWAT CLOSE OF BHAGWAT'S EFFIGY BURNING ON THE GROUND (SOUNDBITE) (English) A MEMBER OF ALL INDIA STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION (AISA), AUROMITA MITRA, SAYING: "We are protesting against this communalism spread by Mohan Bhagwat who on 6th December organised a rally carrying swords where he openly proclaimed the lie and hate of 'Love Jihad'. So we demand 'Love Azad' (freedom to love), where no force, no terror (and) not even the state can control our power to choose our partner."
  • Embargoed: 2nd March 2015 04:27
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7K1TZOPIWL1DCLI0YY2BJVPTU
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3
    Despite reports of Hindu right wing organisations harassing couples in public places, Valentine's Day was celebrated across India on Saturday (February 14).
    In a first, the Chief Minister of northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, inaugurated a 'Lover's Seat' with the picturesque epitome of love, Taj Mahal, in the background in Agra city.
    Yadav also posed for photographs at the 'Lover's Seat' with his wife Dimple.
    He said that for the state Valentine's Day was actually 'Taj Day'.
    "The world knows today as a day of love but for us it is Taj Day and we must do something related to Taj Mahal on this day," Yadav said.
    Another attraction at the event was a black Taj Mahal replica made of sand by artist Sudarshan Patnaik.
    Meanwhile, in Kolkata city of eastern state of West Bengal, All India Students' Association (AISA) held a protest against the Hindu nationalist organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for spreading communalism and impinging on people's freedom to choose partners.
    The protesters also slammed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and burnt his effigy for promoting hatred among communities.
    A member of AISA, Auromita Mirta, said the protest is aimed at countering 'Love Jihad' and instead promote 'Love Azad' (freedom to love)
    "We are protesting against this communalism spread by Mohan Bhagwat who on 6th December organised a rally carrying swords where he openly proclaimed the lie and hate of 'Love Jihad'. So we demand 'Love Azad' (freedom to love), where no force, no terror (and) not even the state can control our power to choose our partner," said Mitra.
    "Love Jihad" is a term for what is considered to be an Islamist strategy by Hindu right wing groups to convert Hindu women through seduction, marriage and money.
    Previous police investigations have found no evidence of an organised "Love Jihad". But the concept has gained credence across central India over the last few months, leading to sometimes - violent protests, despite being considered an absurd conspiracy theory by mainstream, moderate Indians.
    Public displays of love and live-in relationships are viewed as a cultural threat in India, where conservative attitudes coexist with high rates of violence against women.
    Young people have staged mass-kissing campaigns against moral policing.
    In the run-up to Valentine's Day weekend, news reports about the right wing Hindu Mahasabha's plans to distribute white roses to signify they come in peace, and then advise the couples to get married if they are really in love, on Valentine's Day invited ridicule on social media, with the subject trending on Twitter this week.
    Meanwhile, in another celebration, a special carnival organised at entertainment destination Kingdom of Dreams in business hub Gurgaon was thronged by people.
    Red and white balloons adorned the entrance of the carnival. Couples were seen enjoying themselves as they shopped and relished delicacies from across the country at the carnival on the outskirts of the Indian capital New Delhi.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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