By Manasi Nene

In an interview with ANI, RSS leader Indresh Kumar has given his views on what has led to triple talaq, divorce, rape, and violence against women. Valentine’s Day.

Kumar extolled India as a vishwaguru (world leader), and a place where we’ve established bhaichara (brotherhood, but better translated into ‘a sense of community’), because of the pure and precious ways we have of showing affection. Indian culture is also, according to him, a great example of gender equality.

He also said that love has been “sacred and pious” in India till Valentine’s Day spoilt it. “In India, love has been sacred and pious. It has been sung as the tales of Radha-Krishna, Laila-Majnu and Heer- Ranjha but the western culture commercialised love and gave birth to festival of Valentines’ day which is now responsible for problems like rape, illegitimate children and violence on women,” he said.

Which is why, he appeals, we shouldn’t practice bhogwaad (hedonism) and vaasana (lust) in public places, or on Valentine’s Day. Instead, we should maintain the purity of our relations, and not make anything sexual. If we can just do all that, we can avoid all sorts of atrocities towards women, and India can once again become a model for gender equality.

This isn’t the first time a man has tried to police our sexual lives. Or the second. Or the third. We’re so used to it. It’s funny how he seems to think that violence is caused by public displays of affection, and not the moral police that is opposed to it.