Kiss of Love protest today
Rahul Pasupalan and his friends being persuaded to leave after a group objected to their campaign at Marine Drive in Kochi on Wednesday (Photo: DC)
Kochi: Nobody expected the ‘Free Thinkers’ to create such a warm response in the social media, especially among the youth, who have identified the very cause as their own. On
the eve of the ‘Kiss of Love’ Day, DC tries to capture the mood from the various colleges in the city.
The ‘Kiss of Love’ campaign has already turned out to be another point of conflict between the rival student unions. While the Kerala Students Union (KSU) has decided to prevent “obscene acts at public places”, the Students Federation of India (SFI) convened meetings at colleges like Maharajas on how to provide ‘protection’ to those who attend the campaign aimed at “overcoming typical Malayali inhibitions”.
However, a majority of college students like Mridula Madhav, who is least interested in politics is happy to convey the strong message that ethics should not come in the way of love or affection or care.
“In general there is a positive reaction among the students. However, many are apprehensive to turn up at Marine Drive tomorrow’s event since there is a concerted attempt to label the event as a kissing event. The parents too are against their children showing up at the venue,” said Mridula, a student of the St Teresa’s College.
“If it’s a campaign against moral policing, we’ve no problem. However, the method chosen by the organizers, couples kissing each other in public cannot be accepted. They are just imitating the West and crossing the boundary line. Even our law provides action against ‘Obscene Act at Public places’,” said Aloshious Xavier, Chairman of Sacred Heart College, Thevara.
“As an individual, I welcome the protest against moral policing incident. However, it’s not necessary that one should reply in the same manner by organising a kissing event,” said K Sethuraj, KSU leader, Ernakulum Law College.
“The organizers already made it clear that the aim is to draw attention to the fact that it was not acceptable to intrude into someone’s privacy citing moral reasons. It’s not mandatory that the participants should kiss each other. And there is no problem if a couple decides to kiss each other,” said Appu Rycard George, a DYFI activist.
The college authorities are most relieved that the campaign is taking place on a holiday. “We’ve been spared otherwise it’s tough to decide whether to place restriction or not to for the students appearing at Marine Drive,” said a faculty of the St Teresa’s College.
( Source : dc correspondent )
Next Story
