'Kiss of Love' campaign ends with protesters' arrest
The much-hyped 'Kiss of Love' drive against moral cops, spearheaded by a group of netizens, at Marine Drive in Kochi, ended in a whimper on Sunday. Photo: Arunchandra Bose- "Because we selected this form of protest, everyone is discussing it. We want to create an awareness against moral policing," they said.
- Pointing out that kissing and hugging was only a form of agitation they had chosen to raise awareness against moral policing, Rahul said it was precisely due to the novel form of protest they had adopted that so much heat had been generated.
- The organisers had received a shot in the arm with the Kerala High Court refusing to interfere with the event after the state government assured action would be taken in the event of any illegal activities.
- "There is no question of backtracking. The protest will be held as scheduled at 5 PM at the venue with participants holding placards," Rahul Pasupalan, IT professional and short film maker and Jijo Kuriakose, a researcher and members of 'Free
- Stressing that it was "not a kiss fest" but a gathering of like minded people to raise awareness against moral policing, they said they would next focus on creating awareness about the deadly AIDS.
- Earlier, thousands turned up at the Marine Drive and nearby premises by 3.30 p.m., a majority of them onlookers who arrived to witness the kissing.
- “We took 30 of the organizers and their supporters from the Ernakulam Law College premises into preventive custody at 4.30 p.m. as the situation was going out of hand. No charges were registered against them as we did it for their own safety,”
- As the activists refused to heed the advice, the police took them into preventive custody.
- A huge contingent of police blocked their way and asked them to disperse to avoid a law and order problem.
- The activists spearheading the ‘Kiss of Love’ campaign assembled before Law College to march towards the Marine Drive.
- The lovers threw pepper-spray at the attackers and the cops indulged in lathicharge to disperse the protesters. The extremists also targeted some women members.
- Soon the extremist outfit activists opposing the campaign barged into the scene and began to attack the supporters.
- However, a group managed to dodge the police and reached the Marine Drive where they started kissing each other, including intimate lip-lock kissing by couples.
- The protestor’s main grouse was that kissing in public was against cultural values and tradition of the country.
- Activists of Shiva Sena, Bajrang Dal SDPI and Campus Front marched to the venue, shouting slogans and declaring their intention to stop the event by any means.
- The sprawling Marine Drive Grounds swelled with lumpen protesters in anticipation of a kissing spree.
- Police rounded up 30 campaigners minutes before the event, but the small band, outnumbered by spectators and protesters, stood their ground.
The much-hyped 'Kiss of Love' drive against moral cops, spearheaded by a group of netizens, at Marine Drive in Kochi, ended in a whimper on Sunday. Photo: Arunchandra Bose
'Kiss of Love' campaign ends with protesters' arrest
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