Mangaluru: As many as 44 CRPF jawans sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country on February 14.   The leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have urged the people to celebrate ‘Pulwama Martyrs’ Day’ on February 14 instead of celebrating ‘Valentine’s Day.

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday,  VHP regional coordinator (South Karnataka) Sunil K R said  “It is our duty to recall the selfless service of the martyrs who laid their lives down for the country. As celebrating ‘Valentine’s Day’ is not our culture and the youth project their infatuation as true love, parents and elders should not allow them to celebrate Valentine’s day,”. The VHP and Bajrang Dal will organise ‘Pulwama Martyrs Day’ programmes in all districts of Karnataka to commemorate the sacrifice of the jawans on February 14.

Sunil also informed that the VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders will convince the owners of malls and pubs in the city not to organise any programmes related to Valentine’s Day on February 14. “We will also ask the college boys and girls not to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Even though we are not taking the law into our hands, those who support Valentine’s day should not provoke us,” he cautioned.

Meanwhile, Sunil informed that the organisation will write a letter to the Union Home Minister to celebrate ‘Pulwama Martyrs Day’ on February 14 throughout the country every year.

VHP and Bajrang Dal leaders Bhujang Kulal, Puneeth Attavar and Dinesh Mendon were present.