2014 Kiss of Love protest

Last updated
Kiss of Love Protest
Kiss of love protest 2014 in Kerala at Ernakulam.JPG
Protest in Ernakulam
Date2 November 2014 [1]
(Initial outburst)
Location
Caused byMultiple instances of moral policing
MethodsProtest by French kissing, hugging and holding hands
Casualties
ArrestedAround 50
Charged Around 100 [2]

The Kiss of Love protest was a non-violent protest against moral policing. It started in Kerala, India, and later spread to other parts of the country. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Contents

The movement began when a Facebook page called Kiss of Love called forth the youth across Kerala to participate in a protest against moral policing on November 2, 2014, at Marine Drive, Cochin. [8] [9] The Facebook page garnered more than 154,404 followers. [10] [11] After the initial protest in Kochi, similar protests were organized in other major cities of the country.

The movement later received opposition from various religious and political groups, including the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, SDPI, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Sena. [12] [13] [14] [15] In a series of judgments, both the Supreme Court of India and the Delhi High Court ruled that kissing in public is not an obscene act and that no criminal proceedings can be initiated for kissing in public. [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Background

In the 2000s and early 2010s, there were a series of high-profile incidents of violence against individuals for perceived obscene conduct. Attacks were carried out by both police and vigilante actors.

Activities

Origins

The Kiss of Love protest was sparked off in October 2014 when Jai Hind TV, a Malayalam news channel owned by the Indian National Congress, telecast an exclusive report on alleged immoral activity at the parking space of Downtown Cafe in Kozhikode. [21] The video showed a young couple kissing and hugging each other. [22] A mob of attackers, who were later identified as belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, vandalized the cafe following the report. Following this, a group of friends from a Facebook page called 'Freethinkers', started the Facebook page 'Kiss of Love'. [23] Activists from all over Kerala decided to protest against the series of moral policing incidents by organizing a public event at Marine Drive beach on November 2 in Kochi. [24]

On November 2, 2014, activists gathered at Marine Drive, Kochi to express solidarity with the movement against moral policing. A planned march proceeded from the campus of Ernakulam Law College to the venue, during which the police took around 50 activists into preventive custody, citing law and order issues. [25] [26] Various religious and political groups also gathered on the protest ground to physically prevent the activists from kissing and hugging in public. [27]

Kerala Police was criticized for its failure to control the event. [28] [29] Police allowed counter-protesters—who included members of Shiv Sena, SDPI, and Bajrang Dal—to attack the protest. [30] Although they attempted to physically stop the Kiss of Love protesters from legally protesting, none of the counter protesters were removed. [29] [31] Police later claimed that they arrested the Kiss of Love protesters to save the protesters' lives. [32]

Further activities

The protest was very popular on social networking sites and in the news media. [10] [11] The opposing groups allegedly compelled the Facebook authorities to block the Kiss of Love page through mass reporting [33] on November 3. [34] The profile pages of all of the administrators were blocked as well. One of the administrators said that the page had 50,000 members at the time of blocking. The page was reinstated later that day and the number of members soon crossed 75,000. [35] Supporters of the campaign had been posting pictures of them kissing on social networking sites. [36]

Kollam-based women's rights activist Resmi R Nair was the co-founder and spokesperson of the Kiss of Love protest. [37] Another activist, Rehana Fathima, also participated in the protest along with her partner, film-maker Manoj K Sreedhar. [38]

A group of students at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam protested against moral policing by conducting an event named 'Hug of Love'. All the participants were later suspended for 10 days by the College authorities for violating the 'code of conduct'. [39]

Another group of students from Government Law College Kozhikode organized an event called Hug of Love on 10/12/2014. Authorities took this as an act of indiscipline and served show cause notice to participants.

A protest against moral policing in Thiruvananthapuram with kisses and hugs under the banner 'kiss against fascism' was conducted in front of the Kairali theater complex during the 19th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) on 13 December 2014. [40]

Kiss In The Streets

A Kiss protest dubbed as 'Kiss In The Streets' was organized on 7 December in Kozhikode. Right-wing opponents of the kiss protest issued threats before the event, stating that protesters would be stripped naked in public, if they attempted to kiss. [41] The event was marred by violence towards the protesters by Shiv Sena and Hanuman Sena. [42] Police resorted to caning and took the Kiss of Love protesters and their opponents into preventive custody. [43] Protesters claimed that Kerala Police were more brutal than the Right-wing assailants. [44]

Support outside Kerala

The event gathered support from educational institutions outside of Kerala including University of Hyderabad, JNU Delhi, IISER Kolkata, Pondicherry University, IIT Madras and IIT Bombay. [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] Students from Jadavpur University and Presidency University, Kolkata organized similar protests against moral policing in Kolkata on 5 November 2014. [51] [52] The Kolkata chapter also protested against the authorities of north Kolkata's Star Theatre for allegedly refusing entry to a 17-year-old girl because she was dressed in a skirt. [53]

On November 8, a group of protestors demonstrated by kissing and hugging outside RSS headquarters in Delhi. [54] While JNU students were at the forefront, there were representatives from several universities in the city like Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Ambedkar University Delhi and National Law University. [55] Hindu Sena members arrived on the scene stating that the "Western culture was corrupting and degrading Indian culture". [56] Hindu Sena members tried to physically attack kissing couples. [57] On November 9, a similar protest was organized by students in JNU campus, in solidarity with those who courted police action at the 'Kiss of Love' event in Kochi on November 2. [58] A Kiss of Love event that was scheduled for 30 November in Bengaluru was canceled when permission for protest was denied by Bengaluru Police. [59] [60]

Legality

Section 294(a) of Indian Penal Code states that "Whoever, to the annoyance of others, does any obscene act in any public place shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both". [61] IPC does not define the word 'obscene', hence it is interpreted differently by different authorities. The Supreme Court has noted that "'obscenity' should be gauged with respect to contemporary community standards". [62]

The court has also observed that the "standards of contemporary society in India are…fast changing" in Chandrakant Kalyandas Kakodar vs The State Of Maharashtra 1969. [63] Regarding 'contemporary community standards', the Supreme Court has noted that it is not "the standard of a group of susceptible or sensitive persons" that can be held as the standard of the community, in Aveek Sarkar vs State of West Bengal (2014). [64] Regarding social morality, the Supreme Court has observed that "notions of social morality are inherently subjective and the criminal law cannot be used as a means to unduly interfere with the domain of personal autonomy" in Khushboo vs Kanniamal (2010). [62] Now with regards to kissing and hugging in public places, the Supreme Court of India has made it clear that 'no case can be made out' of two people consensually hugging and/or kissing. [16] [17] Supreme Court gave this verdict in response to a petition filed by actor Richard Gere to quash the arrest warrant issued by a Jaipur court. The arrest warrant was issued after the actor had taken Shilpa Shetty in his embrace and kissed her on the cheek at an AIDS awareness program. [65] A verdict by Delhi High Court has also made it clear that kissing in public is not a criminal offense. [66]

Opposition

Kiss of Love was met with opposition and criticism from certain sections of Indian society. [3] Several religious and political groups like Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, SDPI, Sunni Yuvajana Sangham, Vishva Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Sena, Campus Front, Samastha Kerala Sunni Yuvajana Sanghom, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Hindu Makkal Katchi and Ernakulam wing of Kerala Students Union opposed this movement. [12] [13] [14] [15] These opposing groups claimed that public display of affection is against both Indian culture and the law of the land (under section 294 of the Indian Penal Code). [67] The Kerala State Women's Commission opposed Kiss of Love stating that it was against the culture of Kerala. [45] [68]

The proposed Kiss of Love event in Bengaluru received opposition from several quarters. Manjula Manasa, chairperson of the Karnataka State Women's Commission described the event as uncivilized. [69] Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, several Congress and BJP leaders and various Hindutva proponents also opposed it. [70] Bengaluru Police refused to give permission for the event, stating that kissing is an obscene act. [60] [71] Pramod Muthalik of Sri Ram Sena, the organization behind 2009 Mangalore pub attack, threatened to take the law into his hands if the campaign was held. [72]

Vigilante attacks

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiv Sena</span> Political party in Maharashtra, India

Shiv Sena is a right-wing Marathi regionalist and Hindu ultranationalist political party in India founded in 1966 by Bal Thackeray. Currently led by Eknath Shinde, this party is the ruling party of the Indian state of Maharashtra since 2019. Shiv Sena's election symbol is the Bow and Arrow. It uses the saffron colour in its flag and a image of a roaring tiger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bajrang Dal</span> Hindu nationalist militant organisation

Bajrang Dal is a Hindu nationalist militant organisation that forms the youth wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). It is a member of the right-wing Sangh Parivar. The ideology of the organisation is based on Hindutva. It was founded on 1 October 1984 in Uttar Pradesh, and began spreading more in the 2010s throughout India, although its most significant base remains the northern and central portions of the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oommen Chandy</span> 10th Chief Minister of Kerala (1943–2023)

Oommen Chandy was the 10th chief minister of Kerala, serving from 2004 to 2006 and 2011 to 2016. He served also as the leader of the opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2011.

Moral police is an umbrella category of vigilante groups which act to enforce a code of morality in India. Some of India's laws, and some actions of police forces in India are also considered to be instances of moral policing. The target of moral policing is any activity that vigilante groups, the government or police deem to be "immoral" and/or "against Indian culture".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Popular Front of India</span> Banned Indian Muslim political organisation

Popular Front of India (PFI) is an Islamic political organisation in India, that engages in a radical and exclusivist style of Muslim minority politics. Formed to counter Hindutva groups, it was banned by the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on 28 September 2022 for a period of five years.

The Shree Ram Sena, or Shree Ram Sena, is a right-wing Hindutva group founded & headed by Pramod Muthalik. It has received media attention for its acts of moral policing, including the 2009 Mangalore pub attack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Social Democratic Party of India</span> Indian political party

Social Democratic Party of India, popularly known as SDPI, is an Indian political party which was founded on 21 June 2009 in New Delhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vishva Hindu Parishad</span> Hindu nationalist organisation

Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) is an Indian right-wing Hindu organisation based on Hindu nationalism. The VHP was founded in 1964 by M. S. Golwalkar and S. S. Apte in collaboration with Swami Chinmayananda. Its stated objective is "to organise, consolidate the Hindu society and to serve and protect the Hindu Dharma". It was established to construct and renovate Hindu temples, and deal with matters of cow slaughter and religious conversion. The VHP is a member of the Sangh Parivar group, the family of Hindu nationalist organisations led by the RSS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Oommen Chandy ministry</span> Period in Indian politics, 2011–2016

The United Democratic Front government led by Oommen Chandy sworn in on 18 May 2011. Seven of the total 20 members of the Cabinet took office on 18 May and the rest sworn in on 23 May after completing discussion with member parties of the UDF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political activism in Kerala</span> Overview of the political activisim in Kerala, India

Kerala is a politically-active society in India, with a politically active and aware population. Many of the news events happening in Kerala are related to the political events happening in the state.

The celebration of Valentine's Day in India began to become popular following the economic liberalisation. There have been protests against the celebrations by groups who consider it a Western influence. Almost every year, law and order problems occur on 14 February in many cities in India due to protests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rahul Easwar</span> Indian activist, public policy commentator

Rahul Easwar is an Indian public policy commentator and activist from Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">K. Surendran (politician)</span> Indian politician from Kerala

Kunnummal Surendran is an Indian politician from Kozhikode in the state of Kerala. He currently serves as the 11th President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. In March 2024, he was announced as the BJP candidate from the Wayanad Constituency for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, facing off against Rahul Gandhi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Kerala</span>

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Kerala face legal and social difficulties not experienced by non-LGBT persons. However, Kerala has been at the forefront of LGBT issues in India after Tamil Nadu. It became one of the first states in India to establish a welfare policy for the transgender community and in 2016, proposed implementing free gender affirmation surgery through government hospitals. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 2018, following the Supreme Court ruling in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India. In addition, numerous LGBT-related events have been held across Kerala, including in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. However, there is also increasing opposition to LGBT rights recently as evidenced by the anti-LGBT campaigns spearheaded by meninist groups and Muslim organisations like Indian Union Muslim League, Samastha and Jamaat-e-Islami.

This is an overview of incidents of vigilantism in the Indian state of Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerala Police</span> Law enforcement agency for Kerala, India

The Kerala Police is the law enforcement agency for the Indian state of Kerala. Kerala Police has its headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. The motto of the force is "Mridhu Bhave Dhrida Kruthye" which means "Soft in Temperament, Firm in Action" in Sanskrit. It operates under the Department of Home Affairs, Government of Kerala. The force is headed by the State Police Chief, and the incumbent chief is Shaikh Darvesh Sahib, IPS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citizenship Amendment Act protests</span> 2019–2020 protests in India

The Citizenship Amendment Act (Bill) protests, also known as the CAA Protest, CAB Protest or CAA and NRC protests, occurred after the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was enacted by the Government of India on 12 December 2019. The move sparked a widespread national and overseas ongoing protests against the act and its associated proposals of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The protests first began in Assam and spread swiftly in other states such as Delhi, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura on 4 December 2019. Protests broke out rapidly across the country, although the concerns of the protesters vary.

Bhim Sena or Bheem Sena or Akhil Bhartiya Bhim Sena, abbreviated as ABBS, lit."All India Ambedkar Army", is an Ambedkarite social organization working for rights of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and religious minorities in India currently under national president, Nawab Satpal Tanwar. It works for protecting the Indian Constitution and reservation. The organisation is named after B. R. Ambedkar. Seema Chauhan is PRO of Bhim Sena.

Rehana Fathima, also known as Suryagayathri, is an Indian women’s rights activist from Kerala.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 in Kerala</span> List of events

Events in the year 2023 in Kerala

References

  1. PTI (4 November 2014). "Cases against at least 100 persons registered for 'Kiss of Love' protest". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  2. PTI (4 November 2014). "Cases against at least 100 persons registered for 'Kiss of Love' protest". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 Tharakan, Tony (10 November 2014). "'Kiss of Love' protests rattle Modi's conservative India". Reuters. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  4. "'Kiss of Love' spreads to Kolkata". Zee News. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  5. "'Kiss of Love' Campaign Spreads to Kolkata, Delhi - New America Media". Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  6. K C, Ramesh Babu (October 29, 2014). "'Kiss of Love' to protest moral policing in Kerala". Hindustan Times . HT Media Ltd. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  7. Hashim, Farmis (November 3, 2014). "Demonstrators kiss to protest 'moral policing' in Kerala". The Observers. France24. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  8. FP Staff (October 30, 2014). "Kiss of Love: Kochi's version of Pink Chaddi campaign to fight moral policing". Firstpost. Network 18 . Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  9. Philip, Shaju (October 28, 2014). "Youth to mark Nov 2 as 'Kiss Day' to challenge moral policing in Kerala". The Indian Express . Indian Express Group . Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  10. 1 2 https://www.facebook.com/kissoflovekochi: [ user-generated source ]
  11. 1 2 "'Kiss of love' plan gets more support in Kerala" . Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Wary Cops Nab Around 50 'Kiss of Love' Protesters". Archived from the original on November 6, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Kiss of love protest: Police blamed for giving free hand to miscreants". www.deccanchronicle.com. Archived from the original on 2019-12-03.
  14. 1 2 "Kerala's 'Kiss of Love' Protest, Planned for Sunday, Draws Opposition". NDTV.com. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  15. 1 2 "Student organisations condemn 'Kiss of Love'". The Hindu. 31 October 2014.
  16. 1 2 "SC clean chit to Gere in Shilpa kissing row". IBNLive. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  17. 1 2 "BBC NEWS - South Asia - Richard Gere cleared of obscenity". 14 March 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  18. "BBC NEWS - South Asia - India couple's kiss 'not obscene'". 3 February 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  19. "Kissing in public by married couple not obscene: HC - the Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 2014-10-31.
  20. "The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Opinion | Who's afraid of kissing?". www.telegraphindia.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-12.
  21. Philip, Shaju (October 25, 2014). "Congress channel alleges 'immorality' at Kerala cafe, BJP workers vandalized the cafe smashing all furniture and fixtures of the coffee shop". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  22. Babu, Ramesh (2 November 2014). "Kerala: 'Kiss of Love' campaign meets wall of cops and protesters; fizzles out". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  23. "Kochi youths plan 'kiss day' after cafe vandalism". The Indian Express. 29 Oct 2014. Retrieved 19 Nov 2014.
  24. Varghese, Johnley (November 2, 2014). "Kerala Gets Ready for its First Public Kissing Event, Backlash Feared". International Business Times. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  25. "'Kiss of Love' organisers taken into custody in Kochi on the fear of mass attacking by public". The Hindu. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  26. Sanyal, Anindita (2 November 2014). "Kerala 'Kiss of Love' Ends in Chaos, Participants Taken Into Preventive Custody". NDTV. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  27. Thomas, Trisha (2 November 2014). "Hindu, Muslim groups join hands against Kiss of Love in Kerala". RTN-Asia. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  28. http://freepressjournal.in/police-behaved-in-a-partisan-way-says-cpm-leader/ Archived 2014-12-02 at the Wayback Machine :
  29. 1 2 "Kiss of Love: Kerala govt's first mistake was siding with moral hooligans". Firstpost. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  30. "At least 50 taken into custody for organising Kochi 'kiss of love' protest". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  31. "'Kiss of love' movement: They came, dared the mob, did it". The Times of India. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  32. "We took kiss of love activists into custody to save their lives - Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Archived from the original on 2016-04-01.
  33. "Report a Violation - Facebook Help Center - Facebook". Facebook . Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  34. "Kiss of Love Facebook page blocked, activated again". Deccan Chronicle. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  35. S.R., Praveen. "Kiss of Love' page blocked, reinstated". The Hindu . 4 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  36. K.S., Sudhi (4 November 2014). "Kiss of Love protests: Taking matters, personally". The Hindu . Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  37. "#BBCtrending: India's 'Kiss Protest' prompts controversy". BBC News. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2022.
  38. "Activist Rehana Fathima climbs down from Sabarimala, but ..." 19 October 2018.
  39. Kochi Bureau (7 November 2014). "'Hug of Love' at college". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  40. "IFFK gets its share of Kiss of Love". The Hindu. 14 December 2014.
  41. "Kiss in the Street could shift to moving buses | Kozhikode News - Times of India". The Times of India . 7 December 2014.
  42. "Kozhikode 'Kiss of Love' event marred by violence | Kozhikode News - Times of India". The Times of India . 7 December 2014.
  43. "Police detain over 60 'Kiss of Love' campaigners". The Hindu. 8 December 2014.
  44. "Kozhikode protesters brave violence to hug and kiss | Kozhikode News - Times of India". The Times of India . 8 December 2014.
  45. 1 2 "Cops Flustered as Kochi Pouts Lips to Protest Moral Policing". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  46. "IIT-B to lock lips with Kochi's 'Kiss of Love' movement". The Times of India. 2 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  47. PTI (5 November 2014). "'Kiss of Love' supporters face case for obscenity in Hyderabad". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  48. "'It was not kissing fest, why a case of obscenity?' asks Arundhathi, student of Hyderabad University". 7 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  49. "FeministsIndia" . Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  50. "It's Just Celebration and Expression of Love, Say IIT-Madras Students". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  51. "Kolkata embraces Kiss of Love, says no to moral policing". Zee News. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  52. "'Kiss of Love' spreads to Kolkata". The Times of India. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  53. "Kolkata theatre screens by skirt length". The Times of India. November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  54. "'Kiss of Love' Protesters Hold Demonstration Outside RSS Office in Delhi". NDTV.com. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  55. "'Kiss of love' fest near RSS office in Delhi turns slugfest". The Times of India. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  56. "Kiss of love campaign: They lock horns over locking lips". The Indian Express. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  57. "'Kiss of Love' fails to reach RSS office". Deccan Herald. 9 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  58. PTI (9 November 2014). "Kiss of Love held in JNU campus". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  59. Afshan Yasmeen (25 November 2014). "Kiss of Love: 'no one can take law into their own hands'". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  60. 1 2 "Kiss of Love Protest off, Bengaluru Cops Alert". Archived from the original on December 8, 2014.
  61. "Section 294 in The Indian Penal Code" . Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  62. 1 2 S. Khushboo vs Kanniammal & Anr on 28 April, 2010 Supreme Court of India. Retrieved 26 December 2022
  63. Chandrakant Kalyandas Kakodar vs The State Of Maharashtra And Ors on 25 August, 1969 Supreme Court of India. Retrieved 26 December 2022
  64. Aveek Sarkar & Anr vs State Of West Bengal And Anr on 3 February, 2014 Supreme Court of India. Retrieved 26 December 2022
  65. Richard Holt (27 September 2007). "Shilpa Shetty questioned over Gere kiss". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  66. "Kissing in public by married couple not obscene: HC". The Times of India. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  67. "Kerala Kiss Festival | the Indian Express". indianexpress.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-06.
  68. "Police lock on 'Kiss of Love' protest". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  69. Bageshree S., Laiqh A. Khan (24 November 2014). "It's 'uncivilised,' says women's panel chief about 'Kiss of Love'". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  70. Bageshree S. (24 November 2014). "Politicians united in opposing 'Kiss of Love'". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  71. http://indian Archived 2013-07-31 at the Wayback Machine express.com/article/cities/bangalore/bangalore-police-deny-permission-for-kiss-of-love/
  72. Staff Correspondent (16 November 2014). "Pramod Muthalik hisses at 'kiss of love' campaign". The Hindu. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  73. 1 2 Shaju Philip (4 August 2014). "In Kerala, cops on the prowl for men and women outdoors together". The Financial Express. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  74. "Cops go moral, harass actor, pal". Deccan Chronicle. 27 July 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  75. "Devil's Own Country for Women". OPEN Magazine. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
  76. Philip, Shaju (October 8, 2014). "Kerala: 9 convicted in moral police murder case". The Indian Express. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  77. "Moral police in khaki fleecing young couples | Kochi News - Times of India". The Times of India . 19 April 2013.
  78. "Moral policing suspected as boy is killed in chase". The Hindu . 4 February 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  79. "'Moral police' attack restaurant in Kozhikode". The Hindu . 24 October 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  80. "Congress channel alleges 'immorality' at Kerala cafe, BJP workers vandalise it". The Indian Express . 25 October 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  81. "CPI(M) local leader arrested for 'moral police' attack on journalist and husband". The News Minute. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  82. "Bid to Attack Journalist, Husband". The New Indian Express . 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  83. "Man beaten to death at Mankada, moral policing suspected - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2017-05-29.

Further reading