Kochi’s Kiss of Love: Here's why Shiv Sena’s selective moral policing is problematic

 

In India, that is the good part. Everybody has an opinion and in case you don’t follow that opinion please be ready to face the consequences. Here too, the Shiv Sena brigade, the self-confessed moral conscience of India, whom no one wants but seems to strike whenever it feels like, descended on some youngsters sitting at the Marine Drive.

 

Is this the first time that Shiv Sena workers have indulged in something like this? Clearly – No. In their stronghold (read Maharashtra), there is a widespread fear of the organisation, which works more like a goonda organisation rather than a political party.

 

 

Protector of India’s moral values, promoter of Indian sabhyata (culture), the Shiva Sena and more of their ilk believe in Alternative Facts (just like Donald Trump does). They refuse to understand the fact that there will be interaction between members of the opposite sex and that a man and a woman, a young man and an older woman have other relationships as well – that of a father and daughter, son and mother, brother and sister etc.

 

 

The brigade seems ready to spring upon anyone who violated their sense of being Bharatiya (Indian) and in a state like Kerala, this kind of policing is to be feared. Already the state’s record with murders, assaults and molestation is running in the red and on top of that the left wing and right wing strikes and bandhs mar the usual running in the state.

 

Surprisingly, in the dictionary of the Shiv Sena and moral policing brigade punishing the corrupt, the rapist, the molester, the wife-beater, the alcoholic etc does not figure. In fact, their behaviour sometimes gives me the image of selective priorities. Going after a young boy and girl for holding hands, for celebrating Valentine’s Day, women not wearing the markers of being married etc holds much more importance. Why? Because such activities are polluting the minds of others, they say.

 

What about molesters and rapists? Oh! I forget it’s the woman’s fault for wearing jeans, shorts, salwar, sari, burkha and then getting into trouble.

 

Dear Shiv Sena, haven’t you heard of the saying ‘live and let live’. These people were well within their rights to be at the Kochi Marine Drive and even if they were kissing or hand holding in public there should be no problem because no law anywhere says it is unconstitutional to do so.

 

Under the garb saving India’s culture it is you who is giving the country a bad name. You are projecting an image of a country which cannot laugh on itself; which does have the artistic freedom to think, write, paint or create films, unless they do not adhere to your standards.

 

You blame the Arabic countries for being strict with their women, you are no different as you go wielding your stick and casting aspersions on people’s characters and relationships. If we needed you as a moral police we will ask for you, till then please understand you are not welcome.