Bhopal: Days after mocking the Center over its appeal to hug a cow on Valentine’s Day, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena has now warned couples planning to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14. A video posted on micro-blogging platform Twitter showed a group of Shiv Sena workers armed with sticks warning people not to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
In the viral video, he can be seen shouting, “Jahan milenge Bittu-Sona, tod denge kona.” Activists could be seen applying oil on their sticks and offering prayers to teach a lesson to couples found celebrating Valentine’s Day on Wednesday.
The video is being shared on Twitter and has been retweeted several times.
Wherever Bittu will meet gold… will break every corner
Warriors helping to build a new India pic.twitter.com/LQ8tiVrIB8— Rajeev Nigam (@apnarajeevnigam) February 13, 2023
Shiv Sena has issued this warning to the people of Madhya Pradesh where it has given similar threats in the past as well. Many right-wing organizations believe that St. Valentine’s Day is a western festival and need not be observed here in India.
Activists of these organizations have in the past visited various places including parks etc. in their respective cities and encountered couples celebrating Valentine’s Day. They issue warnings every year to pubs and restaurants that hold any such event on Valentine’s Day.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) had earlier mocked the ‘Cow Hug Day’ initiative for Valentine’s Day on February 14 and took a dig at Narendra Modi, claiming that billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani was a “sacred cow” for the prime minister. Mocking the BJP government at the Centre, the Shiv Sena said in an editorial in Saamana, “Adani is the big bull of the stock market, but for Modi, he is a sacred cow,” as the PM embraced the “big bull” and Wasn’t ready to let go.
The Animal Welfare Board of India had earlier urged people to celebrate Valentine’s Day as ‘Cow Hug Day’ to spread “positive energy” and encourage “collective happiness”. However, the appeal was withdrawn following protests from several quarters to the move and a meme fest ridiculing it on Twitter.