New Delhi, Feb 14
Wearing wedding attire and carrying placards reading "Fall in Love, Not in Line", around 150 protesters Saturday gathered outside the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha's office here to protest against the outfit's moral policing, but were detained by police.

These protesters, mainly from the Jawaharlal Nehru University Student's Union (JNUSU) and from different organisations, gathered at the Mandir Marg office of the right-wing outfit which had declared that they will marry off the couples who would express their love for each other by any "indecent" means.

"We are witnessing continuous vandalisation of churches, massive communal frenzy, cases of brutal rape. The government too has shown its characteristic apathy and inaction but when students groups organise peaceful protest against moral policing, it takes not more than 10 minutes to crack down voices of opposition," said JNUSU president Ashutosh Kumar.

However, these protests didn't deter the Mahasabha from doing what they had said.

The website of the organisation claimed that they have successfully married off couples at a wedding ceremony held at their Delhi office.

"On this occasion we have also done religious purification(shuddikaran) of a few Muslim and Christian couples and have brought them back into the Hinduism," the statement said.

"We strongly believe that celebration of Valentine's Day is an international conspiracy to destroy the Indian culture," it added.

Early in the morning, wearing masks and carrying posters like "Koi na Koi Chaye" (You Need Someone) "Mujh Se Shaadi Karogi?" (Will you marry me?), these protesters reached their office for the sake of "keeping up their promise" of marrying couples on the Valentine's Day.

"We wanted to tell them that that they can't dictate terms to us. Love is no crime and so is Valentine's day. We protested because we believe in freedom of all sorts of expression, including love," said Varun Kumar, one of the protesters.

Around noon, these protesters were detained and taken to the Parliament Street police station.

Soon after they were detained, the protest videos were quickly shared on the official Facebook page of "Shud Desi Romance - Everyone weds Anyone" who had openly invited struggling lovers to the Hindu Mahasabha office.

These videos showed how the protesters were telling the policemen to not detain them as they "will miss their wedding" and were shouting "Haq Humara Azaadi" - throughout the march.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Jatin Narwal told IANS that these students were released by 5.30 p.m.

The Mahasabha also lamented the fact that the Delhi Police didn't allow them to have a "dialogue" with the protesters.

"Even though the Delhi Police didn't allow us to meet these couples who wanted to get married, yet we have been able to prepare these young couples for marriage and have generated awareness about it," it said.
Bhubaneswar, Feb 14
Scores of young couples faced the wrath of some fringe outfits indulging in moral policing by protesting against the celebration of Valentine's Day Saturday.

Police have detained some people after activists of the Kalinga Sena and the Bajrang Dal vandalised a mall in the capital city.

Police also resorted to a mild cane-charge to disperse the volunteers who organised a bike rally.

The activists also raided parks, malls and other places to check couples celebrating Valentine's Day.

However, police said adequate police personnel have been deployed at several places in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to prevent untoward incidents.

"We are examining the video footages and would take action against the violators after ascertaining their involvement," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Satyabrat Bhoi.

Police Commissioner R.P. Sharma said about 10 platoons of police have been deployed at parks, malls and cafeterias in the twin cities.

What were B-Towners upto on Valentine's Day?

For some like Shabana Azmi, Valentine's Day is a "marketing ploy" and for others like Dia Mirza, the occasion Saturday is being made special with their beloved's presence.

V-Day plans of some film celebrities:

Raveena Tandon: This month, my husband and I celebrate 11 years of marriage. So Valentine's Day is like a teaser trailer to our wedding anniversary on Feb 22. My husband (Anil Thadani) and I are in Udaipur at the Jai Mahal and Shivniwas Palace where we got married, reliving the golden moments.

Shabana Azmi: No plans whatsoever! Obligation to buy a gift for your partner on Valentine's Day is a marketing ploy that I've never succumbed to. A warm touch and a shared silent moment is more meaningful than a 9-carat diamond.

Aarya Babbar: Hardly is there a year in our given romantic life when we're lucky enough to have a special Valentine's Day. If we are lucky enough to have a special V-Day, we should just cash in on it. This year is that special V-Day for me. I am taking that someone special in my life to a surprise destination. Hopefully, it should be romantic. Hopefully she'll love me even more after this surprise. Hopefully we'll be married before next Valentine's Day.

Ronit Roy: I'm shooting as usual on Valentine's Day. For me every day is Valentine's Day, as I consider myself extremely lucky to have Neelam as my wife. Gift? Aren't diamonds a girl's best friend?

Dhanush: I've a release this week. So Valentine's Day would be spent pampering my film rather than my wife.

Taapsee Pannu: I'll be shooting on Valentine's Day. But everyone who has someone in his or her life must not forget to shower love on your beloved for the remaining 364 days (too).

Dia Mirza: This is my first Valentine's Day after marriage. Just the thought that my husband will be with me this year makes me happy.

Ayushmann Khurrana: I don't celebrate Valentine's Day. But I remember making endless rounds of my then-girlfriend (now wife)'s home in Chandigarh on my bike on Valentine's Day. Those were the days!

Photo: right wing youth dirupting V-Day celebrations in Nagpur