Kanpur:
Activists of the right wing organisation Bajrang Dal on Saturday harassed and assaulted couples in Kanpur, deeming their relationship as 'vulgar'.
Workers of the organisation patrolled the streets of the city on motorcycles, waving flags and shouting anti-Valentine's Day slogans, storming public places to catch unguarded couples.
"The youth wing of the party deems Valentine's Day a vulgar occasion. It is wrong to indulge in these acts. We want to send out a message to the youth to not indulge in such activities, which threaten Indian culture and society and also Hindu traditions," said a Bajrang Dal worker, Naveen Kumar.
He added that young couples should refrain from looking at Bollywood movies and actors as their inspiration.
Meanwhile, in a unique ceremony in Chennai, stray dogs were married off as an opposition to Valentine's Day.
Around 35 members of regional religious organisation the Hindu Munnani carried out a procession in the streets, garlanding and smearing the heads of dogs with colour.
"Today we organised a marriage ritual between dogs to show our opposition to Valentine's Day. We are not opposing love but nowadays only lust exists in the name of love and we oppose those activities," said Hindu Munnani leader C.D. Mugundhan.
Earlier this month, the Hindu Mahasabha had threatened to marry off couples who were caught kissing or hugging in public places on Valentine's Day.
