They often love to speak in different voices over common issues but the ‘Kiss of Love’ event scheduled here on Sunday seems to have almost united student organisations in the State.
Except for the Students Federation of India (SFI), all the other student wings of political parties have condemned the initiative by terming it as against the cultural values of the nation, and especially Kerala. Interestingly, the SFI leadership is playing it safe by saying that “we do not have any official association with the proposed event”.
The federation went on the back foot after the Kerala Students Union (KSU) asked whether the SFI leadership supported the stance taken by one of its senate members favouring the ‘Kiss of Love’ event at Marine Drive. “It’s not SFI’s view. But the individual has the freedom to air her view,” said Shijukhan, State president of the federation. However, he was quick to remind that the student organisation would oppose moral policing by right wing forces such as Yuva Morcha.
Stating that Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) would not organise an agitation against ‘Kiss of Love’ event, its State secretary B.R. Arun warned that they would join hands with those opposing such indecent acts that go against the cultural and traditional values of the nation. “People who want to kiss each other can do it in privacy and not in public space,” he said.
KSU State secretary P.Y. Shajahan too echoed a similar view when he pointed out that they would not permit youngsters to kiss in public, as it went against the cultural values.
T.P. Asharafali, State president of Muslim Students Federation (MSF), said his organisation would oppose both the ‘Kiss of Love’ event and the moral policing by right wing forces. “Kiss of Love is against the value system and ethos of our State. Moral policing should also be condemned equally,” he said.
Published - October 31, 2014 10:50 am IST
