Muslim terrorists hate infidels. Hindu terrorists hate couples. Terrorism of a new kind is generated.As the students kissed underneath the Memorial Tower at the stroke of midnight to celebrate Valentine’s Day, many youngsters across the ocean were banned from commemorating the holiday.We celebrate the existence of mothers, fathers, grandparents and dead people for once existing; it only seems logical to also celebrate the existence of love that results in fertilized eggs which happen to turn into human beings.But in India, Hindu extremists threatened and attacked celebrating couples. Indian police rounded up Hindu extremists who allegedly threatened to marry off young couples found together on Valentine’s Day. The Press Trust of India News Agency reported more than 100 activists were detained across the southern states of India.It seems the loners – instead of wallowing in self-pity — organized a club to fight against the couples. The group called themselves Sri Ram Sena, or Lord Ram’s Army, claiming orthodox principles of Hinduism as their cause for action.”Drinking, socializing, celebrating Valentine’s Day is all part of Western culture, which is corrupting our Indian culture,” SRS general secretary V.K. Rajesh told The Times of India on Feb. 3.”We are not against love. But we are against loose morals we see among the younger generation who are blindly aping the West. And we will not spare these people, and we will take whatever action is needed within the law,” Rajesh said.The group is concerned with the changing image of women, relationship dynamics and preservation of Indian identity, according to The Times of India. It is evident they are also concerned with the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic.  Instead of preaching safe-sex measures, they have adopted similar, ironically Western, practices of preaching absolute abstinence.Preserving culture in the midst of globalization has an intrinsic worth, but these Hindu extremists are bluntly incorrect if they deem public displays of affection as wholly Western.Hindus believe Lord Krishna had hundreds of lovers during his incarnation on Earth. Known to be flirtatious and charming, Lord Krishna is illustrated in many stories stealing clothes from bathing girls. Lord Krishna displayed his affection to all his lovers openly, and the public under him was well aware of his actions.   Not only religion, but Indian culture is filled with unique love stories. Since the launch of the cinema industry in India, most movies have been built on frameworks of simple love stories. From the oldies of the 1960s era to modern Bollywood films, most feature a love story of some sort. Love stories, through the medium of movies, have openly displayed affection.The public is only doing what comes naturally — openly expressing love.Hindu extremists may still adamantly claim Valentine’s Day is not part of Indian culture. But today’s vast globalization proves every culture is influenced by foreign practices to some degree.Perhaps people inhabiting the Amazon rainforest or Sub-Saharan Africa have not yet been exposed to enough Western principles to integrate into their own individual cultures. But the second-largest populated country in the world should not expect to retain cultural purity.The State of Karnataka banned the celebration of Valentine’s Day, hoping to alleviate problems of law and order. The people have a right to choose to conform to Westernization if they wish it. A democratic nation ought to protect the rights of lovers’ expression.However, the state chose to act in fear of violence. Terrorism from Hindu extremists is much like terrorism from Islamic extremists. In Baton Rouge, we might not think much of the condition in India. We may still be thinking about the kiss under Memorial Tower.But the next time you witness public display of affection, be proud of the right to express such affection.—-Dini Parayitam at [email protected]