Activists root for couples

This year couples were not alone while celebrating V-Day. Not just police, activists — both pro and anti, were literally looking over their shoulders. Thankfully they stayed at arm’s length. Naziya Alvi reports.

This year couples were not alone while celebrating V-Day.

HT Image

Not just police, activists — both pro and anti, were literally looking over their shoulders. Thankfully they stayed at arm’s length.

At Delhi University, NSUI activists distributed flowers among students as a gesture of peace. NSUI Delhi president Hibi Eden, however, said the group did not have any official stand on the matter as it was personal. Rivals ABVP took out a march stressing the need to love one’s motherland.

Rashtravadi Sena members distributed pamphlets in front of Hansraj College and called upon people to discourage their kids from imbibing western culture. Jai Bhagwan, a senior member of the Sena said the protests had a huge impact on V-Day celebrations.

The National Panthers’ Party deployed teams to take on miscreants physically if they harassed couples. “Some regressive forces are trying to divide society and repress youth by protesting against it,” read a Panthers pamphlet, which advised couples to use chilli powder and pepper spray to keep miscreants at bay.