Sene crumbles under undies crush

Faced with a deluge of pink underwear from women across many cities, Sri Rama Sene convener Pramod Muthalik seems to have gone weak at the knees.

No demonstrations or dharnas before pubs and other happening places on Valentine’s Day, but only affectionate advice for unmarried couples… the Sri Rama Sene’s sudden change of heart on Wednesday should perk up spirits of lovers here.

Muthalik told DNA, “We will not force couples to tie mangalsutras, to solemnise marriages, or a rakhi, a symbol of sibling relationship. I have instructed my workers not to trouble people, but only advice lovers humbly to get married to honour their love.”

Sene workers, he said, would not indulge in violence as they never believed in violence. The purpose of creating awareness about the need to honour the institution of marriage, if a couple is in love, in accordance with Indian culture, had been achieved, he felt.

“Our campaign has made parents more alert towards their children’s activities so that they could monitor and guide them in the right direction,” Muthalik said.

Online activists behind the Pink Chaddi campaign are so overwhelmed with the response that they are requesting everyone to send the ‘couriers’ directly to Muthalik’s address listed on the blog.

Benson, a contact person for the initiative, told DNA they had to shut down collection centres due to logistical issues. “So many people sent us pink chaddis that we have had to close down the centres. The number of people who came in was beyond our expectations. There was too much chaos because of the overwhelming response,” Benson said, adding that now the only thing to do was to send them directly to Muthalik’s residence.

He said they had collected about 1,000 undergarments. “I don’t have exact figures as they are being collected all over the country. In Bangalore, we have a few hundred, 300 more in Hyderabad, then there are centres in Pune, Delhi, Agra and Amritsar,” Benson said.

Benson said they have not faced any serious threat from the Sene yet. “We’ve got a few calls asking us to discontinue our campaign and a few demanding a public apology. However, most people are supporting us against the Sene,” Benson added.

The Bangalore police have assured the city’s lovebirds, “We are here, celebrate without fear.”

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party said those disrupting the celebrations will be prosecuted under the state goonda Act. Punishment is severe under the Act, compared to the Indian Penal Code or Criminal Procedure Code.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the BJP’s student wing, said the Sene was protesting for publicity.

Muthalik, a former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh man, started the Sene after he was expelled from another rightwing Hindu group, the Bajrang Dal, two years ago.
In Puducherry, the Bajrang Dal warned hotels and restaurants against organising special programmes to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Celebration of the occasion was an “utterly alien culture” and it should not be “imported” to India, A Kannan, organiser of the local unit, said. - With inputs from agencies

60 pink panties
The Mumbai collection centre collected 60 pink panties till Wednesday evening. “I expected to hit 100. I’m sure we will get that many as at least 15 women called up to say they could not make it to the collection centre at Lower Parel,” said a collection volunteer.

She said the women will courier their panties directly to the Sene office in Hubli. She said that packets with panties were being sent even late at night.