Forcible marriage, noisy protests and burning of effigies marred the Valentine's Day celebrations in Hyderabad and other parts of Andhra Pradesh as the Bajrang Dal and other outfits of Sangh Parivar took to the streets to enforce their 'code of conduct' and prevent 'love birds' from moving around.
At least two young couples were forced to "marry" by tying mangalsutras, another incident was prevented by the police. Armed with a Taali (mangalsutra) and rakhis, the Sangh Parivar activists including women chased young couples and kept the police on toes throughout the day. They kept vigil at parks, picnic spots, pubs and even at temples to enforce their edict.
About 50 activists were arrested at different places in Hyderabad as they tried to burn effigies. In Chaitanyapuri area of Secunderabad, workers of Hindu groups burnt an effigy of Valentine along with the greeting cards in front of a closed Archie's Cards shop. In Kothi the police stopped the activists from burning a similar effigy
However in a strange incident, a young couple sought the help from the Bajrang Dal to get married against the wishes of their parents. The BD leaders organized a marriage ceremony at their office in Kothi area.
In another city Nizamabad, the activists forced two college students Lavanya and Srinivas Reddy to marry on the roadside. They forced the boy to tie a mangalsutra around the neck of the girl who tried to cover her face from the television cameras. Demonstrators also burnt the effigy of union minister Renuka Chowdhary for her remarks against Ram Sene president Muthalik.
In another similar incident in Dilsukhnagar area of Hyderabad ,Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad workers forced another young couple to tie the knot. At Gandipet, a popular picnic spot, the police prevented Bajrang Dal activists who were trying to forcibly marry a young couple which were there on a picnic. The police arrested 20 activists.
Bajarang Dal activists were arrested while holding a protest demonstration at the Taj Krishna.
In Visakhapatanam, the picturesque Ramakrishan beach, a picnic spot, wore a deserted look as the Sangh Parivar outfits holding saffron color flags patrolled the area on motorcycles to catch hold of young lovers.
Though Sangh Parivar outfits have opposed Valentine's Day in the past too, but this was the first time that they were seen actively protesting on such a large scale.