RAJKOT, INDIA, December 31, 2000: Three Hindu organizations, the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Shiv Sena, have banned couples from dancing together during New Year’s parties in Rajkot, citing as their reason that it is against Hindu culture. Two hotels in the city, the Garden Water Park and Motel The Village, requested the police for permission to organize dance parties, but the police seemed to favor the right-wing organizations. Raju Dave, local president of the Bajrang Dal, told rediff.com that he believed that “these types of celebration are an attack on our culture.” He added that if they found couples dancing “indecently,” they would ask organizers to stop it or face the Bajrang Dal’s wrath. Rajkot Police Commissioner Sudhir Sinha told rediff.com that dinner and music parties will be allowed but not dancing couples. The Bajrang Dal has also formed a special vigilante squad to stop such parties and keep a vigil throughout the New Year night.
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