NEW DELHI: And now, from the banner that delivered such political blockbusters as Ghar Wapsi and Love Jihad comes a special release for February 14, observed by some as Valentine’s Day. From all accounts, it will be a day to remember. And if you think you’ve seen this movie before, remember, there are no new stories, just the same old ones with better special effects.Protests by the Hindutva brigade have been virtually institutionalised as part of Valentine’s Day, but this will be the first since the advent of the BJP-led government at the Centre. The Hindu Mahasabha, however, says it will mark the occasion differently this time — by welcoming inter-religious couples with open arms, even offer to get them married in their offices. Just one catch — the non-Hindu partner would need to “return home”, also known as Ghar Wapsi.Prem Vivah Diwas (Love Marriage Day), as February 14 has been dubbed, is also part of Ghar Wapsi, according to Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha president Chandra Prakash Kaushik.“The Ghar Wapsi of the Muslim/Christian partner will be done an hour before the wedding. For that we are asking couples to inform us a day before so we can make arrangements,” said Kaushik.The Hindu Mahasabha was recently in the news for wanting to install statues of Gandhiji’s assassin Nathuram Godse across the country. Expanding on the theme, Kaushik said Valentine’s Day will be a “Prem Pariksha” (test of love) for couples who follow different religions.“ There have been plenty of cases of Love Jihad. If the boy really loves the girl, let him embrace the religion his forefathers followed and become a Hindu again. It will also prove to the girl what his plans are,” he said. Love Jihad refers to the purported seduction of Hindu maidens by Muslim men expressly for the purpose of conversion. The Mahasabha has formed six teams that have been assigned the responsibility of identifying couples in the Capital and western Uttar Pradesh who might avail of its services.Three priests and if needed more will be employed in line with the demand thus generated for peaceful conversion, Kaushik said.“At least eight of the planned marriages are inter-religious. We are giving them all support so that they get convinced to embrace Hinduism. All these years we let go of our boys and girls who fell in love with people from other religions. We have to start looking at it differently now,” he said.“We will also ensure that Hindu boys get married to their Muslim girlfriends after the girls are brought back into the Hindu fold,” Kaushik said.Some couples he spoke to had said they were too young and needed time to think about marriage. “We told them in that case it is not true love and they shouldn’t belittle love by openly going around like this-.”Kaushik said all these years the organisation had tried to protest against the celebration of Valentine’s Day but it was time the nature of the challenge changed. The organisation wants to also make sure that morals are upheld.upheld.“We are getting a Prem Vrat ready that all couples will have to take that day — of being with that person and not indulging in other affairs. If youngsters want to celebrate the day, they must do it the Indian way, by showing what love is all about — commitment and loyalty,” Kaushik said.Last year, the organisation’s volunteers were on the lookout in Delhi Metro stations to “catch couples with roses”.When friendly persuasion didn’t work, alternative methods were tried.“We had strictly explained to youngsters that this open display of affection was wrong and that only India has taught the world the meaning of love. Many of them agreed after we told them we will inform their families,” Kaushik added.Still, not everyone’s happy, with some picking holes in the narrative.Charu Gupta, associate professor of history at Delhi University , said it was paradoxical that those who said women were being duped when they converted to Islam were using the same argument of love and conversion to strengthen their own religious identity.`