Valentine’s Day mood has set in and the cupid struck lovers have already made plans weeks ahead to make most of Valentine’s Day weekend. All major cities in the world will be celebrating the day of love but dark political clouds are threatening to turn it into date of hate in Mumbai and other parts of India thanks to the age old Indian legacy of hatred and communal politics.

Shiv Sena, a regional political party in Mumbai is staging violent protests against the release of Bollywood flick ‘My Name is Khan’ on Friday. It is mainly targeted against leading star Shah Rukh Khan for his recent statements regarding allowing Pakistan cricketers to play in upcoming IPL cricket series. It is really appalling and shocking that regional political parties decide to instigate violence and use hate politics as a means increase mass base needed to achieve political ends.

Cinema theatres are being attacked in different parts of Mumbai and probably for first time in the history of Mumbai – the home of Bollywood, a film will be released amid strict security cover. Couples who had made advance bookings for other movies on Valentine’s Day too may have to take risks or change their plans. Even if they don’t CCDs cameras and security cover will anyway invade their private moment of togetherness on the special V-day.

In a country like India and congested cities like Mumbai there are thousands of issues that can be raked up and politicized but yet these parties choose to divide people on the lines of religion and region. How long Indians must suffer power hungry political parties which are bereft of any ideology and vision and who deny people simple pleasures like enjoying a drink in pub or watching a movie?

Let us hope this Valentine weekend love will win and peace will reign in Mumbai and other parts of the country.

Via Indian Express