Hindu Nationalists are building bonfires of Valentine’s Day cards in the streets and protesting the cultural imperialism of celebrating VD on the subcontinent. I’m with them — let’s torch the whole goddamned Hallmark Holiday (of course, the Nationalists object on prudish grounds, while I’m mostly about the idea that promiscuity should not require a greeting-card).
Hindu nationalists claim the Western holiday promotes promiscuity, and in recent years they have marked the day by trashing shops, burning cards and chasing hand-holding couples out of restaurants.
“Valentine’s Day is against the ethics and culture of Indian society,” said Bal Kalsekar, a leader of the nationalist Shiv Sena party, which is based in Bombay.