Major metros all over India were draped in red and pink as youthful romantics exchanged kisses and Valentine’s Day card defying threats of beatings at the hands of militant hardliners. In Lucknow, Ved Prakash Sachchan, convener of the Bajrang Dal, warned the media, “We request young couples not to visit parks and restaurants or organize parties on Valentine’s Day. Those who do not listen to us will be beaten up.” In Mumbai the Shiv Sena threatened to stake out public parks, movie theaters and shopping malls to photograph couples in compromising positions and hand over pictures to their parents.
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