Bengaluru: Volunteers powering the ‘Kiss of Love’ smoochfest in Bengaluru have dug in their heels, announcing they will not back down over plans to hold protests against moral policing, despite the growing clamour from right wing organizations like Sri Ram Sene headed by Pramod Muthalik and its political kissing cousins, the Bharatiya Janata Party, whose parliamentarian Shobha Karandlaje has said “Things that happen within four walls should stay within four walls, and not spill out on the streets.”
The Sene's Mr Muthalik along with Guru Prasad, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and RTI activist Nagraj met with the city police commissioner on Thursday and submitted a petition, demanding that no permission be given to the event and that the organizer Rachita Taneja be arrested.
The volunteers of the Bengaluru chapter of the 'Kiss of Love' movement against moral policing however are buoyed by the positive response from Bengalureans. Their official Facebook page, despite being inundated with threats of violence and web trolls has seen the number of visitors jump, with 1,500 visitors signing up for the event, slotted for November 29.
Some of the volunteers met the DCP Central Sandeep Patil, on Thursday evening and have submitted the clarification sought by the police on what exactly the 'kissathon' was going to entail.
Sandeep Patil, DCP (Central) told Deccan Chronicle, "The volunteers have submitted a letter where they say over 150 people will be joining the protest." "The letter states that the protestors will gather, protest peacefully and leave. We will analyze the letter and will decide whether the event should be given a clean chit or not."
Meanwhile, Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik along with Guru Prasad, Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and RTI activist Nagraj met with the city police commissioner on Thursday and submitted a petition. Sri Ram Sene leader, Pramod Muthalik told DC, “We have submitted a petition to the city police commissioner M N Reddi and DCP Central Sandeep Patil demanding the arrest of the organiser Rachita Taneja. We have also asked the police not to grant permission to the organizers to host the event in the city as it is against our culture and values.”
Confirming the news, Mr Reddi said, “Mr Muthalik had come to my office to give a petition against the event ‘Kiss of love’. In his petition, he hasdemanded that the controversial event should not be granted permission to be held in the city. I have referred Mr Muthalik's petition to the DCP Central, Sandeep Patil and have told that necessary action would be taken as per the law.”
