Kozhikode: A group of activists organised a march to 'Sea Queen Hotel' here protesting alleged ban on wearing 'lungi'.
The controversy erupted after the staff of the hotel prevented two people wearing 'lungi' at the entrance of the rooftop restaurant on Saturday night who created much hue and cry.
The two demanded the hotel management to give it in writing which they did. Later, the activists approached the police demanding action against the hotel.They took out a march from Town Hall to the hotel, where they held a protest meeting.The lungi-wearing marchers carrying placards shouted slogans against the hotel.
"Wearing 'lungi' is our right, and we will fight for it,'' said Karim Chelembra, an activist.
Town police started an investigation based on the complaint of an activist and also recorded the statement of the hotel management.
However, the management dismissed the allegations saying that the lungi clad people are generally discouraged on the rooftop family restaurant where women and kids enjoy evenings.
But generally, the staff allow people in a gentle mood at their discretion, said a promoter who preferred anonymity.
"Moreover, the two who created a hue and cry Saturday night were in an inebriated condition and turned violent when we prevented them from entering the rooftop," he said. "There are two other restaurants, both AC and non-AC, where anybody can have liquor, but they were insisting on going to the rooftop family restaurant."
Years ago, there was another protest in another hotel in the city over the same issue. It ended after the owner expressed an apology to the dignitaries who protested wearing underwear only, pointing out that the hotel was allowing foreigners in shorts.
Actor Joy Mathew, who was one of the participants of the agitation in 1999, told DC that the present protest was different. Here they allowed in people wearing lungies but not those shabbily dressed into the rooftop family restaurant due to safety concerns for women and children. Joy Mathew felt that all those neatly dressed in lungi or shorts should be allowed in all hotels.
