Observe Valentine's Day as 'Black Day': Shiv Sena Activists

A general view of the atmosphere during the Valentine's Day With Dunkin' Donuts Heart-Shaped Donuts held at Dunkin Donuts on February 12, 2016 in Encino. (AFP)

PHAGWARA: Activists of Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) and Shiv Sena Punjab today said Valentine's Day should be observed as 'black day' as Bhagat Singh and two other freedom fighters were awarded the death sentence on this day in 1931.

Claiming that a section of "misguided" youths celebrate the occasion as "love day" under the influence of western culture, the two outfits organized functions where they paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, and garlanded their pictures.

The activists, while paying glowing tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev, claimed that the trio were awarded death sentence in the Lahore conspiracy case on February 14, 1931 though they were hanged on March 23 that year.

Inderjit Karwal, senior state Vice-President Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) and Rajesh Palta, Vice President Shiv Sena Punjab, said February 14 was a "black day, rather than a love day, as our heroes were awarded death sentence on this day".

Claiming that youths were ignorant about history, they said parents, teachers and social activists should educate children about this tragic historical fact so that this day is observed in a sombre way rather than as "vulgar Valentine's Day."

"Ashleelta nahi shaleenta" (civilised behaviour, not vulgarity) should be the hallmark of February 14, they added.