Chhatisgarh govt has asked schools to celebrate 'Parents' Day' instead of Valentine’s Day on February 14 to impose 'Bhartiya Sanskriti' to the students, reports the Hindustan Times, citing a notification by the BJP Government.
“Chhatra chhatraaon ko Bharatiya sanskriti evam sanskaar se parichit karaya jay." (Students be made acquainted with Indian morals), the notification reportedly said.
One jailed godman whose name has not been disclosed has advised the state to celebrate 'matru patru diwas' on February 14 which is celebrated worldwide as Valentine's Day.
A similar notice has been issued in schools at the Chhinwara district.
In a bid to wean youngsters off "western culture" of celebrating Valentine Day, the district administration has come out with an order directing all educational and social institutions to observe February 14 as the day to show respect for their parents.
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"With an aim to inculcate the feeling of having respect towards parents, especially among children and youths, February 14 should be observed as 'Matra-Pitra Pujya Diwas' in the district," Chhindwara Collector J K Jain said in an order issued on February 6.
"I have appealed specially to the youths to observe February 14 with their parents and stay away from the western culture," the Collector told PTI today.
As per the order, "All educational and social institutions in the district are directed to observe this day (as 'Matra-Pitra Pujya Diwas') and it is expected to be organised in a grand manner at home, family, village, city and colony level."
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Right wing organisations have never really been in favour of Valentine's day, claiming it to be an influence of western culture corrupting Indian sensibilities, with news of political parties and groups like Shiv Sena, Bajrangi Dal and RSS many a times, humiliating and even beating couples in an attempt at moral policing.
