Harsha Raj Gatty

Mangaluru, Feb 13: Asserting that 'Valentine's Day' promotes immoral activities among the youth, the members of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) demanded for the curb on its celebration on February 14th in Dakshina Kannada. Alternatively the HJS said that they supported the idea of Asaram Bapu's 'Parents Worship Day' on February 14 instead.

While claiming that unlike Bajrang Dal and Sri Ram Sena, its members won't venture into violence or vigilantism, HJS said that it will only create public awareness against the ill's of celebrating Valentine's Day.

Speaking to daijiworld, the coordinator of HJS coordinator Chandra Mogera, said that Roman Catholics themselves have struck down the celebration from their religious calendar. In several countries there are laws against the observation of this day.

"More than roses, our findings from independent surveys have revealed that sales of contraceptive pills soar by 25 percent between February 10-14. Online platforms sell nearly 1.5 lac condoms around those days. Vested interest for the sake for business are promoting pre-marital sex among youth," Mogera says.

The HJS co-oridinator said that per se, the organization is not opposed to love, however there is no need to dedicate a single day for such observations, as it can be misconstrued. "There is a rise in the case of teenage pregnancies, as more importance is given to physical relation than the sacred principle of love by such observation," he says.

He dissuaded people from 'blindly' following the western philosophies and said that it was their turn to look towards India for spiritual guidance. "Their concepts like live-in relationships have collapsed and they are seeking lessons from us on running a family or a household," he said.

In its appeal submitted to city police commissioner T R Suresh, and Dakshina Kannada district superintendent of police Ravikanthe Gowda, HJS has urged the officials to curb people from organising or taking part in unwarranted activities under the aegis of Valentine's day. Besides the committee members said that youngsters indulge in alcohol consumption, smoking, and also become the victims of drug mafia.

According to HJS, unlike Valentine's day, 'Parents Worship Day' must be utilised to encourage the youth to pay reverence to the parents and elderly. "Its a very good initiative by Asaram Bapu and we support the initiative taken by him to create such awareness," Mogera said.

Parents' Worship Day was coined by spiritual leader Asaram Bapu in 2011, as an alternative to Valentine's Day celebration. The self-styled leader Bapu since 2013 is lodged at Central jail at Jodhpur being accused of rape case, illegal confinement of his victims.

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