New Delhi: Days after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's rage on the streets of Mumbai and some other parts of Maharashtra, its counterpart Shiv Sena took over on Thursday, targeting people, shops and vendors who had anything to do with Valentine's Day.
In Delhi, about a dozen Sena protesters briefly blocked a road early on Wednesday and burnt Valentine's Day cards and gifts, chanting 'Down with Valentine'.
The Delhi Police maintained a strong vigil around parks, shopping malls and popular joints to deal with any untoward situation.
Mobile units of the police are on the prowl around colleges and at the Delhi University campus.
In Lucknow, Sena activists sent out a diktat against Valentine's Day celebration and threatened to beat up couples found celebrating their love.
"Our volunteers will check parks, hotels and restaurants and swoop upon young lovers found walking hand-in-hand," Vijay Tiwari, a Shiv Sena activist in Lucknow, said.
"We are deadly against Valentine's Day," Sapan Dutta, a Sena leader, said. "We are for civilized love and affection."
Police in Lucknow said they would stop any intimidation.
In Pune, activists of Sena Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, Shiv Sena's student wing, protested outside prominent colleges.
They tore Valentine's Day cards and shouted slogans. Several Vidyarthi Sena activists were taken into custody and police pickets have been deployed outside the colleges.
In Indore, Sena activists demonstrated and raised slogans against Valentine's Day celebration near the Gandhi statue.
Local Youth Congress workers then came out on the streets, distributing roses to spread the day's message. Police arrested 25 Shiv Sena workers apprehending a confrontation between the two groups.
The clarion call to Shiv Sena workers to oppose Valentine's Day came from none other than the Sena chief himself.
Writing on Sena mouth piece Saamna, Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray said the party's opposition to Valentine's Day will continue as it has 'nothing to do with Indian culture'.
Commenting about the day, Thackeray sought to know what Valentine's Day was and what did it have to do with Indian traditions.
Only those who are not patriotic and has a lot of parents' money to spend will celebrate the day, and 'Sainiks' will continue to oppose the foreign culture, he said through the article.
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