The Hindu : Front Page : We’ll not spare dating couples on Valentine’s Day: Muthalik

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Friday, Feb 06, 2009
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We’ll not spare dating couples on Valentine’s Day: Muthalik

Bangalore Bureau

Pramod Muthalik

BANGALORE: After their attack on young women at a pub in Mangalore recently, the Sri Rama Sena has now announced an action plan to target couples found dating on February 14, Valentine’s Day.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Sri Ram Sene leader Pramod Muthalik, who is now on bail, said Sene activists across Karnataka would not only hold protests outside colleges, hostels and hotels, where Valentine’s Day celebrations are held, but also forcibly marry off couples found dating in public.

“Our activists will go around with a priest, a turmeric stub and a mangalsutra on February 14. If we come across couples being together in public and expressing their love, we will take them to the nearest temple and conduct their marriage,” Mr. Muthalik said. If the couples resist the move, the girl will be forced to tie a ‘rakhi’ to the boy.

He said his outfit would ensure that Valentine’s Day greeting cards were not sold, and added that activists would be checking out the stores which sold greeting cards.

When asked if his outfit would use physical force against those celebrating Valentine’s Day, he said they “will not take law into their hands.”

‘Law will take its course’

Reacting to Mr. Muthalik’s statement, Minister for Home V.S. Acharya said: “The law will take its course against those who indulged in any kind of untoward activity including violence. We will not bar exchange of pleasantries on Valentine’s Day but people cannot use the occasion to indulge in unlawful activities.”

On Mr. Muthalik’s threat to forcibly marry unmarried couples seen in public places on Valentine’s Day, he said, “let them first commit such an offence and then the law will be enforced.”

The Bangalore City Police have taken Mr. Muthalik’s threat to prevent celebration of Valentine’s Day seriously.

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