MUMBAI: With Aditya, grandson of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray taking over the Yuva Sena reins, the party, which once vociferously opposed Valentine's Day celebrations, has chosen to lie low on the issue, in a bid to woo young voters and avoid controversy ahead of the BMC polls.
"We think there are more important issues to be sorted out than opposing Valentine's Day. The youth are also not much enthusiastic about the day and the celebrations have become less in last two-three years," president of Bhartiya Vidyarthi Sena, the party's students' wing, Abhijit Panse told PTI.
Defending the party's decision, Abhijit said the Sena has taken up issues like helping the youths to get jobs in railways.
The Sena, in the recent years had objections to celebrating the day, terming it a 'western festival'. Party activists indulged in vandalism, threatening youths and attacking gift shops.
A Sena leader, on condition of anonymity, said the party is eyeing BMC polls next year and in no way can afford to loose young voters.
"Development programmes like railway recruitment would attract them more to the party. Even the Yuva Sena does not want to get into any kind of controversy which would hurt sentiments of youth," he added.
Meanwhile, rival Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) said it never opposed Valentine's Day celebrations.
"We have never opposed the Valentine's Day celebrations, it's Sena which has changed its stand about the day," MNS legislator Nitin Sardesai said.
Taking a dig at Sena, home minister R R Patil yesterday said Uddhav should take advice from son Aditya over stand to be taken on Valentine's Day celebrations. He was speaking about the security measures taken by police to thwart untoward incidents on Valentine's Day.
"We think there are more important issues to be sorted out than opposing Valentine's Day. The youth are also not much enthusiastic about the day and the celebrations have become less in last two-three years," president of Bhartiya Vidyarthi Sena, the party's students' wing, Abhijit Panse told PTI.
Defending the party's decision, Abhijit said the Sena has taken up issues like helping the youths to get jobs in railways.
The Sena, in the recent years had objections to celebrating the day, terming it a 'western festival'. Party activists indulged in vandalism, threatening youths and attacking gift shops.
A Sena leader, on condition of anonymity, said the party is eyeing BMC polls next year and in no way can afford to loose young voters.
"Development programmes like railway recruitment would attract them more to the party. Even the Yuva Sena does not want to get into any kind of controversy which would hurt sentiments of youth," he added.
Meanwhile, rival Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) said it never opposed Valentine's Day celebrations.
"We have never opposed the Valentine's Day celebrations, it's Sena which has changed its stand about the day," MNS legislator Nitin Sardesai said.
Taking a dig at Sena, home minister R R Patil yesterday said Uddhav should take advice from son Aditya over stand to be taken on Valentine's Day celebrations. He was speaking about the security measures taken by police to thwart untoward incidents on Valentine's Day.
TOI
