Valentine's day clashes: fringe groups disrupt celebrations in India

In Patna, the capital of Bihar, a group of men affiliated with a fringe organization called Hindu Shiv Bhavani Seva were spotted entering various city parks on Valentine's Day.

Armed with sticks and rods, the men delivered a stern message to young couples: "Don't celebrate it." Chanting slogans like "Stop spreading obscenity in public places," the group aimed to disrupt the observance of the holiday.

The men approached couples in parks, urging them to refrain from Valentine's Day celebrations and instead remember the heroes of the Pulwama attack. On February 14, 2019, a tragic incident occurred in Pulwama when a suicide bomber from Jaish-e-Mohammad targeted a CRPF convoy, resulting in the deaths of forty jawans.

The fringe group claimed their stance was not against love itself but against what they termed as "obscenity being spread in the name of love."

Similar incidents unfolded in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, where two groups—the Bajrang Dal and the Bharatiya Sufi Foundation—also voiced their opposition to Valentine's Day.

They denounced it as a festivity rooted in Western culture that they argue is unsuitable for Indian society. Bajrang Dal representatives organized teams to patrol the city, and the Bharatiya Sufi Foundation echoed similar sentiments, suggesting the celebration could allegedly lead children away from traditional values.