Complete with mandap and priest, Bajrang Dal set stage to marry off couples

Ranchi: Bajrang Dal unit in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh district have gone to extreme lengths for this Valentine’s Day to rid the country of the ‘obscene festival of western society.’ According to a report, the organisation has arranged for a priest, a mandap and a hawan kund to marry off any couple they spot celebrating Valentines’ Day in public places.

The decision comes even as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Shiv Sena announced on Thursday that they would not be protesting or carrying out a witch-hunt on couples this Valentines’ Day.

“This is an independent decision of the Ramgarh Bajrang Dal unit. Though we morally oppose vulgar shows on Valentine Day, this year we would not take to streets to protest holding of the day,” a report in The Indian Express quoted a senior functionary Jharkhand VHP Mritunjay Singh as saying. He also said that a stage has been set and a priest has been hired to marry off the couples who have been caught by the ‘raiding teams.’

Adding that the cost of the marriage would be born by the organisation, Deepak Mishra, coordinator of the Ramgarh unit of Bajrang Dal described the modus operandi- “Each team will comprise of 10 workers. These teams will keep vigil at all the important points in the town including noted Puri park, hotel and restaurants, cinema halls and college areas. If anyone is caught red handed, we will bring the couple to scheduled place and perform the marriage.”