BHUBANESWAR: Right wing activist group Bajrang Dal will not do any kind of picketing in parks and malls this year on Valentine’s Day. However, they will put up posters opposing adoption of western cultures and celebration of Valentine’s Day. Activists of Kalinga Sena – a fringe political party, has threatened to oppose celebration of the lovers’ day in the city.“We have decided not to do any picketing or rally or indulge in any kind of restricting activities on the Valentine’s Day. In the last few years we have seen that some people who do not belong to Bajrang Dal were engaged in all kind of nuisance and harass couples in public places by tying saffron ribbon on their heads. Bajrang Dal’s reputation and image got dented for no fault of ours,” said coordinator of Bajrang Dal, Bhubaneswar wing.The saffron outfit is infamous for conducting raids in parks, shopping malls, and gift and card shops for promoting Valentine’s Day. In several places the members of the Dal allegedly harassed couples for ‘public display of affection’.“We don’t oppose love but we believe that it is not a private affair and people should maintain some decency in love instead of displaying it in the public. But our intention was never to harass couples but remind them to respect Indian culture and values,” Rout added.However, this announcement did not bring any relief to lovebirds as several other groups have come up opposing the celebration of Valentine’s Day.Members of Kalinga Sena have threatened to smudge stinging nettle- plant with itching effect on skin, on couples who will be found celebrating Valentine’s Day in parks, malls, cinema halls coffee joints and restaurants in the city on Thursday. “Those who will be seen destroying India culture and following western culture by celebrating Valentine’s Day will be gifted a Stinging nettle plant (bichhuati),” said Sibhadra Mishra, president of the women wing of Kalinga Sena.The police have beefed up security arrangements in vulnerable places on the Valentine’s Day, official sources said.

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