Forget V-Day! Think about a Laila-Majnu Day

Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Monday suggested an Indian alternative to Valentine's Day and said that it can be renamed after legendary lovers like 'Laila Majnu,' 'Heer Ranjha' and 'Bajirao-Peshwe Mastani'.

"Any way, you youngsters do this thing throughout the year. You do not need a special day for it," Thackeray was quoted saying in Sena's mouthpiece Saamna on the eve of Valentine's Day.

"If you want to select the day, then select it in the name of Laila-Majnu, Heer-Ranjha and Bajirao Peshwe-Mastani," he said.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who banned dance bars, is tolerating things like Valentine's Day, Thackeray said while at the same congratulating college principals who banned Valentine's Day celebrations in their colleges.

"Shiv Sainiks should continue to strongly oppose hi-fi culture in the name of Valentine's Day, which is sought to be propagated in the country," he said.