'Jai Shri Ram' chants mark Valentine's Day protests in Gujarat's Rajkot

With chants of 'Jai Shri Ram', the activists vocally reiterated the long-held views of the two groups, asserting that the annual celebration is deeply misaligned with traditional Indian and Sanatani values.

Chants of “Jai Shri Ram” echoed through parks and public spaces in Gujarat on Saturday as members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and its youth wing, the Bajrang Dal, staged protests against Valentine’s Day celebrations in Rajkot.

Visuals from the ground showed activists moving through various parks in the city, confronting young people and urging them not to observe the annual celebration. Some youngsters were seen leaving the area upon the arrival of the groups. Police personnel accompanied the activists as they roamed parts of the city.

The protesters reiterated their long-held position that Valentine’s Day is at odds with what they described as traditional Indian and Sanatani values. Several activists were heard criticising the growing popularity of Western cultural practices among Indian youth.

VHP leaders in Rajkot argued that February 14 should be observed as a day of remembrance for the soldiers who lost their lives in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, rather than as a celebration of romantic love.

They also claimed that it is becoming increasingly difficult to teach children about “Sanatan Dharma” amid what they described as expanding socio-cultural influence from the West.

Members of the outfits were seen encouraging young men and women to refrain from marking the occasion, while raising slogans in support of their cause.