’Go ahead, celebrate’

Police chief Bidari to get tough with trouble makers on V-Day

'Go ahead, celebrate'

Police chief Bidari to get tough with trouble makers on V-Day

City police commissioner Shankar M Bidri assured theu00a0 public yesterday that he would facilitate peaceful celebrations of Valentine's Day.

Bidri also warned that the police would deal severely with any individual or group taking law into their hands.

In his assurance Bidari said, "Ours is a multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious nation.u00a0 Our Constitution has guaranteed the right to every individual or association or group of persons to observe their own cultural norms, speak their own languages, observe their own religions, subject to the condition that such observance will not violate any provisions of the law of the land."

This being the case, any attempt by any individual, organisation or association to impose their views on persons adhering to different cultures, speaking different languages or observing different religions, forcibly, will amount to a serious offence under the law of the land.

According to Bidari, the observance of Valentine's Day by some individuals, groups or associations, is in accordance with the spirit of our Constitution and society.u00a0 Any attempt to prevent or obstruct any individual or group of persons from observing Valentine's Day forcibly will amount to an offence punishable u/s 153(A) of the Indian Penal Code."

Beware!

Speaking to the media, Bidari said, "Certain organisations and individuals have threatened that they will forcibly prevent people from observing Valentine's Day, as they consider Valentine's Day not consistent with Indian culture. The organisations and individuals who have declared that they will forcibly prevent or obstruct the observance of Valentine's Day are hereby warned that, if they indulge in such an act, they will be dealt with firmly."

According to the provisions of the Excise Act, the pubs and bars will remain open up to 11.30 pm on the day.u00a0

Full protection will be given to pubs, bars and restaurants to function normally up to 11.30 pm, subject to the license conditions imposed by the Excise Department.u00a0 If any pub owner or restaurant owner or bar owner or owners of the shops selling cards apprehend any obstruction or danger on the day, they must inform police.