Kerala couples attacked: CM Pinarayi Vijayan condemns incident; 'Kiss of Love' protest planned against Shiv Sena

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday condemned in the strongest terms the attack on couples by Shiv Sena activists and warned that he would not allow any moral policing or "goondaism" in his state.

Pic courtsey: Twitter/ANI

Kochi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday condemned in the strongest terms the attack on couples by suspected Shiv Sena members and warned that he would not allow any moral policing or "goondaism" in his state.

Reacting to the incident, Vijayan wrote on Facebook that "police sticks should be used against such people".

Calling the incident a "shame" to Kerala, Vijayan further stated that the attackers would be severely punished.

"These people think they can continue in the old ways of patriarchy, of subjugating women. These people think women should be restricted to homes.  These men attacking women and men sharing a coffee, travelling together, working in an organisation together, are handicapped in their thinking. There is no question of allowing moral policing in today's times and world..." the Chief Minister wrote.

The reactions from Vijayan came hours after TV channels aired shocking visuals showing a rowdy group at the city's picturesque marine drive, heckling and chasing couples.

The men arrived in a procession, carrying flags and banners, and some of them broke away to run after couples. One man was heard shouting at and abusing women, in the presence of the police, who appeared to keep a distance.

Ruckus in Kerala Assembly

Meanwhile, acrimonious scenes were witnessed in Kerala Assembly today as the ruling LDF and the Opposition UDF MLAs nearly came to blows over Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's remarks on moral policing.

Trouble erupted during the Zero Hour when the House was discussing a notice for an adjournment motion moved by UDF on the recent moral policing incidents, including one by?Shiv Sena activists in Kochi yesterday.

The House plunged into turmoil at the fag end of the discussion on the issue when Vijayan said that there are doubts that Shiv Sena activists at Kochi were hired by the Opposition.

UDF members, many of them already squatting in the well of the House protesting against the police lapse in preventing the Kochi incident, got agitated over the remark.

Vijayan's comments that "I doubt whether you (UDF) are behind yesterday's drama in Kochi" further infuriated the already agitated UDF members.

When some of the Opposition members moved towards the chair of the chief minister, the LDF MLAs immediately formed a protective ring around Vijayan.
There were heated exchange of words between the members of both fronts.

Even the CM was seen making a point to the UDF MLAs.

He later clarified that when a UDF member allegedly made some threatening gestures at him, he had remarked "do not threaten me... I have seen many such threats".

Vijayan also rejected the Opposition's charge that he had also rushed to the well of the House.
Sensing the rising temperature in the house, Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, ordered temporary adjournment.

When the House re-assembled after nearly an hour, the Opposition boycotted further proceedings in protest against the chief minister's refusal to to take back his words against the UDF. 

'Kiss of Love' protest planned against Shiv Sena

Separately, a 'Kiss of Love' programme will be held at Marine Drive grounds today to protest against the alleged moral policing by the Shiv Sena, organisers said.

A group of people on Facebook called for the programme after Shiv Sena activists allegedly chased away young men and women who were sitting in the Marine Drive area yesterday.

"Kiss of Love programme (will be) at Marine Drive today at 4 PM against moral policing by the Shiv Sena," the group posted on its Facebook wall.

Police said a central police sub-inspector was suspended yesterday for failing to stop the Shiv Sena's "moral policing" while eight police personnel, who were on duty when the incident occurred, were transfered to the Armed Reserve police camp.

A similar 'Kiss of Love' programme was held in Kochi in 2014 to protest vandalism by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists at a hotel in Kozhikode. It was held amid protest by various outfits and those who participated were taken into custody.

The call for the 'Kiss of Love' agitation came today amid ongoing protests by the DYFI and the SFI activists at Marine Drive. The Congress and its student wing KSU have also called for protest against Sena's "moral policing".