KOCHI: Hundreds of people gathered in protest against moral policing and to reclaim their rightful space in Kochi's Marine Drive, last week. Just a day before, a group of Shiv Sena members had chased couples away with sticks, shouting and harassing them, while policemen looked on. One of the protesters, Lasar Mazhavil said, "We want to change mindsets. What is happening is not democratic."
Several Shiv Sena workers have been arrested, and Aditya Thackeray, son of Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, suspended the six major accused from the party. A police official was suspended for alleged inaction, and nine others have been transferred. After being targeted by the Opposition, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan posted on his Facebook page saying, "Marine Drive incident is a shame to Kerala. Won't allow any moral policing or goondaism in the state. These people think they can continue in the old ways of patriarchy, of subjugating women." Just last month, a 22 year old man hung himself outside his house after he and a female friend were filmed, abused, and attacked by a group of men on Valentine's Day at an isolated spot on a beach in Kollam. Their video was uploaded on social media by the men, who have been arrested.
"Love is not a sin. Young men and women have every right to love those they like. Mine is a love marriage. We are living happily as a couple. The lovers come to parks and such public spaces to get to know each other. Nobody will be allowed to stop them," Lazar said. He said the so-called guardians of morality were opposing all types of male-female relationship. They don't like men and women to walk together in public spaces, travel together in a car, sit in a room, or eat together at a restaurant. "The people who see sex in these activities have a sick mentality. They are trying to take Kerala back to the Victorian Era. We will not allow this. We will keep all public spaces like the Marine Drive as cultural spaces. The protests against those chasing men and women from such places will continue."
The protests included members of the 'Kiss of Love' campaign, student and youth wings of the CPM who staged a 'sit-in strike', activists of the Youth Congress who organised sales of canes in front of Ernakulam Central Police Station as a symbolic protest against the Shiv Sena.
