Agra/Meerut: With Valentine's Day around the corner, the moral policing of some Hindutva outfits has already started in some parts of western UP.
This time they have come up with more inimitable ordeals of forced wedding for Hindu couples and a ‘shuddhikaran' (purification) ritual for inter-faith partners, if they found celebrating what they termed as a ‘foreign festival'.
The verbal ordeal has been passed by Hindu Mahasabha which has plans to target couples found with roses, holding hands, hugging each other or sitting in corners.
The Mahasabha National president, Chandra Prakash Kaushik, told Times of India, “India is a country where all 365 days are days for love, why then must couples observe only February 14 as Valentine's Day?"
Couples to beware; as the man claims to make pairs in love undergo a marriage test. If they fail that test then they will have to confront dire consequences like the parents of both girl and boy will be informed immediately etc.
He states that if the couples will tell his men that they need time to think about marriage or that they are not certain then they'll be told not to belittle their love by openly going around and their parents will be duly informed.
Reportedly, the group has established several teams in west UP and national capital to identify “guilty” couples.
Interestingly, the Hindu outfit – Bajrang Dal which was more known for such stands every Valentine's Day has plans to stay mum this time as they are busy with their Hindu Sammelan to be held on day after Valentine's.
Responding to the comments of the Hindu outfits' leaders, SSP Agra, Rajesh Modak D Rao said that the police will be active and will ensure that nothing untoward happens to anyone.
