Valentine's Day is Christian culture says Hindu leader

On every Valentine's Day, youths are chased and couples beaten by members of saffron outfits, who claim, "it is against our Hindu ethos." This year, to intensify their campaign, Rashtriya Hindu Sena (RHS) chief Pramod Mutalik alleged that Valentine's Day is a Christian culture and hence must be banned.

Sparking a national outrage, Mutalik on Wednesday expressed his intentions to disrupt Valentine's Day celebrations in India. Addressing members of Sri Rama Sene, Mutalik said the celebrations are akin to Christian culture.

"We are going to protest against Valentine's Day. We have been opposing it not just this time but have been opposing it for the last 10 years. Let them celebrate it in the church -- not outside in society. They can do this in their church or in their homes. We are also requesting those printing Valentine's Day cards not to do so this time," he said

The Sene plans to write letters to colleges, hotels and greeting card shops not to promote Valentine's Day on their premises. "Colleges should enforce strict action against students celebrating Valentine's Day," he added.

To achieve this, Mutalik, who is out on a bail after Sene members attacked woman in a Mangalore pub on Jan. 24, will approach governor Rameshwar Thakur, CM B S Yeddyurappa, home minister V S Acharya and Bangalore police commissioner.

The chief minister meanwhile has reiterated that, "We will not allow anyone to take the law into their hands."