'Kiss of Love' in public to curb moral policing in Kochi

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 27: A kiss can also be a strong expression of dissent and it will take centre stage at a protest against moral policing in Kochi on November 2.

The promoters of the event, œKiss of Love , hope to make a strong statement against self-appointed guardians of culture. People have been invited to gather near the Marine Drive in Kochi at 5 pm on November 2 with placards carrying messages that celebrate expression of love.

The protest was triggered by the recent attack on a café in Kozhikode by Yuva Morcha activists after a television channel aired visuals of couples in œimmoral acts  at the café.

The event's promoters said the idea was to mobilise protest against all kinds of moral policing. Rahul Pasupalan, a short filmmaker along with other members of a Facebook community called Free Thinkers, has planned the event. He said the decision to kiss at the event will be left to the participants.

œThe idea is to organise a protest against criminals who feel they can take law into their hands to enforce what they perceive as culture. If there are couples who would like to kiss and protest at the event, they are welcome to do that,  he told Deccan Herald on Monday.

A Yuva Morcha activist was arrested in connection with the attack on the café. More than 1,200 people have committed to attend the event through its Facebook page that got more than 2,200 likes. The organisers are obtaining permission for the protest. Meanwhile, the event has also triggered a debate on social media with critics voicing concern on such œextreme  acts of dissent.

œThere's a lot of hypocrisy that derails such debates. The legal system allows registering of cases against public display of affection but let the courts take a call, not individuals,  Pasupalan said. The organisers are lining up similar protests in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.