Drive to promote PDA from September 21

Hyderabad: Stating that moral policing in public or even private spaces is unacceptable, “Park Mein PDA (public display of affection)”, an event to reclaim public spaces, is being held in the city from September 21.

 

In Hyderabad, the multi-city campaign is being partnered by “Hyderabad For Feminism, Queer Campus Hyderabad and Wajood.”As many as 10 incidents of moral policing have been reported from across the country in the last nine months. 

 

“Haq aur Azadi. And our right as citizens!” reads the Facebook page of the event.

 

To participate in the event, which will continue till October 3, one has to go to a public space in the city with a friend or partner or pretty much anyone, as a mark of claiming the public space and share a photo with the hashtag #ParkMeinPDA.

 

The public space can be a park, a garden, the waterfront, riverside, a street bench etc. 

 

“Go out there, and hang out in any public space of your choice, have a picnic, read a book, see the sun, smell the flowers, hold hands, run around trees, sing songs with your partner. But don’t forget to share it on Facebook, and Twitter, Instagram,” said an official of the organising committee said. Those who are not comfortable to reveal their faces can write messages or placards and take pictures of these or even just click a picture holding hands with the partner.

 

“Let’s reclaim our right to be wherever we want, whenever we want, with whomever we want to be with – and all this khullam khulla (or openly)!” claimed one of the organisers as their driving motto.