The Shiv Sena would stick to its stand of opposing Valentine's Day this year too, said Uddhav Thackeray, the newly elected working president of the party.
According to the Shiv Sena, the custom is an invasion of India's culture and is being used by multinationals to capture the Indian market by selling their products to the youth. 'When the Americans don't celebrate Rakshabandhan, why should Indians celebrate Valentine's Day?' is their question.
The Sena has been opposing Valentine's Day, which is celebrated on February 14, for the past three years.
"Valentine's Day is nothing but a way to misguide our youth. We have to be cautious and see that our culture is not spoiled by such things," said Uddhav.
Asked if the Sena would resort to violence, he said, "Those who don't want violence should not celebrate Valentine's Day."
Although Shiv Sainiks had disrupted Valentine's Day functions and ransacked shops in Mumbai and New Delhi last year, no one was injured.
Earlier, the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena, the student wing of the Shiv Sena, was distributing pamphlets and telling students to oppose the celebrations.
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