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Call for Valentine's Ban in India
A right-wing leader described Valentine's Day as a ``Western craze'' and asked party members Monday to disrupt celebrations planned in India's largest city.
Bal Thackeray, a powerful local politician who heads the Shiv Sena party, asked activists to stage demonstrations outside bars, clubs and colleges that plan to organize celebrations on Valentine's Day.
``What is this Valentine's Day and who brought this Western craze here, which is alien to our culture?'' Thackeray said in Monday's edition of Saamna, or Confrontation, a newspaper published by his party.
He warned that party members would hold protests if any ``indecent'' activities were held on Valentine's Day, which is Wednesday.
The party objects to the exchange of Valentine's Day cards and gifts, and feels that the annual festivities to celebrate love are indecent.
But in Bombay, India's financial and film capital, and in other large cities, dating is common and is increasingly gaining social acceptance.
Bombay mayor Hareshwar Patil, also a Shiv Sena member, said he supported Thackeray's stance and called for a ban on all celebrations of Valentine's Day.
``If any such indecent celebrations are held, they will not be allowed,'' said Patil.
He said such imitation of the West ``spoils our young boys and girls.'' But he said there was no formal ban issued by the civic administration on the celebrations.
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