Sena ‘realises’ futility of anti-Valentine’s Day drive

MUMBAI - It was for the first time in years that Valentine’s Day was celebrated with gaiety and without the police having to step up security around multiplexes and shopping malls, as the Shiv Sena obviously realised the futility of its absurd campaign against the festival.

Nithin Belle

Published: Wed 16 Feb 2011, 12:36 AM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 9:13 PM

Thousands of young men and women joyously bought and exchanged gifts, partied at restaurants and night spots, or just held hands and walked along beaches and in gardens, without having to worry about publicity-seeking right-wing nationalists trying to act as spoilsports.

The Shiv Sena and other right-wing bodies such as the Bajrang Dal have in recent years launched campaigns against ‘alien’ (read western) practices such as celebrating Valentine’s Day. In the past, activists associated with these parties have attacked shops selling gifts and greeting cards, or restaurants organising special events for the day.

A few dozen vandals would stone the outlet, driving away customers. The police, of course, always turn up hours after the attack occurs. Many gangsters also took advantage and blackmailed the outlets, demanding protection money.

But with the Shiv Sena having taken a beating in the 2009 general and assembly elections in Mumbai, the party is now busy wooing the younger generation. Elections to the Bombay Municipal Corporation, the richest civic body in India, are due to be held next year. The Sena, which has been dominating the corporation, fears that it may lose control of the body.

The Hindutva party is now projecting Aditya, grandson of founder Bal Thackeray — and the son of its executive president Uddhav — as a new, upcoming leader representing Mumbai’s youth. The 20-year-old is a student at St Xavier’s and heads the Yuva Sena.

While Valentine’s Day has always been a marketing-driven event, the high-profile campaigns launched against it by the Sena have ironically resulted in its becoming popular, especially among the lower-middle-classes. In Sena-dominated labour areas of Mumbai, many of the shops put up special counters on Valentine’s Day, and they do roaring business selling flowers, perfumes and gifts.

nithin@khaleejtimes.com