'Kiss of love' organisers arrested for running sex-racket
Kerala Police made 9 arrests which included Rahul Pashupalan and his wife Resmi R Nair, the "Kiss of Love" campaign organizers for being allegedly involved in an online sex racket. Police announced that those arrested had supposedly "uploaded pictures of school- and college-going girls on a Facebook page and posted derogatory comments." The police is carrying out further probe into the matter.
BJP workers vandalise coffee shop in Kerela
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activists vandalised a coffee shop in Kerala's Kozhikode area, smashing its windows and furniture. The cafe stayed late till night and was frequented by students from IIM and NIT. The activists claimed that the move was aimed at stopping "immoral activities" and all kinds of public displays of affection that was going on at the coffee shop.
Hug and Kiss day at Marine-drive on 2November
In protest of the vandalisation in Kozhikode area, a group of youngsters decided to celebrate a hug-and-kiss day on 2 November. The organisers- Rahul Pashupalan and his wife requested all couples to congregate at Marine Drive to take part in this initiative. The group also started a Facebook page "Kiss of Love" with almost 14000 people having accepted the invitation for the event.
Not the first amorous protest event
In 2009, a similar event had taken place in protest of Sri Ram Sene leader Pramod Muthalik called the 'pink chaddi' campaign following his threat to disrupt Valentine's Day celebrations.
'Kiss of love' seed sprouts in Kochi
Hundreds of people gathered at Marine Drive in Kochi opposite the IG's office to mark the 'kiss of love' event. The protesters had to openly kiss to protest against the increasing incidents of moral policing. The police arrested 33 people in the Law College in the name of preventive custody. Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and Sunni Yuvajana Sangathana were also present to cause obstruction.
Movement gains ground outside of Kerela
The 'Kiss of love' event gathered support from educational institutions like IIT Madras, University of Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, JNU Delhi and IISER Kolkatta. On 5 November 2014, students from Presidency University, Kolkata and Jadhavpur University organised similar protests against moral policing in Kolkata. On 8 November, JNU students with National Law University and DU students demonstrated "kissing and hugging" in Delhi outside RSS headquarters.
