The 'Kiss of Love' controversy took a curious turn on Tuesday when activists decided to go ahead with their lip-locking protest on November 29 while those opposing the public display of affection met the police commissioner to stop the event in Bengaluru.
Rachita Taneja, 23, a human rights activist, said they were going ahead with their protest against moral policing. Even a Facebook page -Kiss of Love Bangalore -was created to give out details of the event. The page is becoming increasingly popular with 345 likes thus far.
Speaking to sources, Rachita said, "We will be meeting DCP (Central) Sandeep Patil on Wednesday to seek permission for the event. We don't want violence at the event. Let me clarify that it will be a peaceful protest against the incidents of moral policing taking place in different parts of the country.We are against moral policing and this is our way of saying no to such policing.
"I am really surprised that moral policing doesn't exist in other places except in India. There is nothing illegal about the protest. So, everything depends on the meeting with the police tomorrow. As of now, things are tentative and we can draw up a final list on Wednesday after the meeting. Many Bengalureans are actually reaching out to us.Once things are finalised, we can send out invites. There will be no actual plan as such.We may hold banners, and raise slogans against moral policing. There may be people who will kiss as it is their personal choice and we can't control it as we don't believe in moral policing."
So, the big question is whether the protest will be a kissing protest or just a protest? Taneja said, "People will be participating in the event. We have not specified anything. If people want to kiss to show protest, they are welcome."
She said that they originally planned to hold the protest on MG road near Metro boulevard. However, they have now planned to shift the venue to Town Hall. Likewise, the event was first scheduled to be staged at 4pm on November 22. However, with the hue and cry against the event, the organisers have now deferred the date to November 29. Reacting to the controversy, Home Minister KJ George said, "The government will not have any objections if the protestors protest well within the framework of the law. If they go against the law or indulge in anything that the law forbids, they will be dealt with. Further it should not spoil our culture."
The organisers said the protest against moral policing was evincing lot of interest from Bengalureans who were upset with moral policing in different parts of the country. It may be recalled that a similar kiss of love was held at Delhi which soon spread to Jawaharlal Nehru University campus too.
ABHM opposes kiss of love campaign
"I am really surprised that moral policing doesn't exist in other places except in India. There is nothing illegal about the protest. So, everything depends on the meeting with the police tomorrow. As of now, things are tentative and we can draw up a final list on Wednesday after the meeting. Many Bengalureans are actually reaching out to us.Once things are finalised, we can send out invites. There will be no actual plan as such.We may hold banners, and raise slogans against moral policing. There may be people who will kiss as it is their personal choice and we can't control it as we don't believe in moral policing."
So, the big question is whether the protest will be a kissing protest or just a protest? Taneja said, "People will be participating in the event. We have not specified anything. If people want to kiss to show protest, they are welcome."
She said that they originally planned to hold the protest on MG road near Metro boulevard. However, they have now planned to shift the venue to Town Hall. Likewise, the event was first scheduled to be staged at 4pm on November 22. However, with the hue and cry against the event, the organisers have now deferred the date to November 29. Reacting to the controversy, Home Minister KJ George said, "The government will not have any objections if the protestors protest well within the framework of the law. If they go against the law or indulge in anything that the law forbids, they will be dealt with. Further it should not spoil our culture."
The organisers said the protest against moral policing was evincing lot of interest from Bengalureans who were upset with moral policing in different parts of the country. It may be recalled that a similar kiss of love was held at Delhi which soon spread to Jawaharlal Nehru University campus too.
ABHM opposes kiss of love campaign
Office bearers of Karnataka State Committee's Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha (ABHM) are opposing the proposed Kiss of Love campaign in the city.
The ABHM headed by Sri Pranavananda Ramaswamy and the other committee members approached the office of the city police com missioner on Tuesday demanding the police refuse to grant permission.
"If by any chance the police grant permission, we will also go to the spot where the campaign is being organized and will disrupt it. The police will have to take responsibility for untoward incidents during the campaign," the committee members said.
Since they were unable to meet police commissioner M N Reddi to submit a memo randum, they approached Joint Commissioner of Crime, Hemant Nimbalkar and submitted it to him in stead.
When contacted, Nimbalkar said that the memorandum would be forwarded to the law and order division to take a stand on the issue.
The ABHM headed by Sri Pranavananda Ramaswamy and the other committee members approached the office of the city police com missioner on Tuesday demanding the police refuse to grant permission.
"If by any chance the police grant permission, we will also go to the spot where the campaign is being organized and will disrupt it. The police will have to take responsibility for untoward incidents during the campaign," the committee members said.
Since they were unable to meet police commissioner M N Reddi to submit a memo randum, they approached Joint Commissioner of Crime, Hemant Nimbalkar and submitted it to him in stead.
When contacted, Nimbalkar said that the memorandum would be forwarded to the law and order division to take a stand on the issue.
