The organisers - Rahul Pashupalan and Rashmi - kissing on the sets of a regional television channel in Kerala on Friday
The organisers of Kerala's controversial 'Kiss of Love' event kissed each other on camera during a television debate on Friday. The anchor of the regional channel had asked Rahul Pashupalan and Rashmi - a real life couple - to kiss in front of everyone and they accepted the challenge.
But that did not go down well with members of a youth wing affiliated to the BJP who were also participating in the debate. According to Rahul, "They physically attacked us after we kissed on the sets of the news channel."
'Kiss of Love' - which the organisers say is a gathering of like-minded people to raise awareness against moral policing - has generated much political heat in the state. The organisers have asked couples to assemble at Marine Drive in Kochi at 5 pm on Sunday and express their love for each other by kissing, holding hands or however they wish.
The police have not given permission for the protest to take place but that has not deterred the organisers who say they will go ahead with their protest.
"There is no question of backtracking. The protest will be held as scheduled at 5 pm at the venue with participants holding placards," said Rahul, an IT professional and short film maker.
The event is being organised by 'Free Thinkers', a group of Facebook users.
Sunday's gathering has been planned to rally against what the organisers describe as the "moral policing" allegedly by right-wing groups. Last week, a coffee shop in Kozhikode was vandalised, allegedly by members of a youth wing affiliated to the BJP. They claimed the cafe was used by young students for dates, which they deem unacceptable.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad or VHP had said it will "legally challenge" the attempt to gather people in a public display of affection; two petitions were also filed in the Kerala High Court but the court refused to interfere with the event after the state government assured action would be taken in the event of any illegal activities.
Pointing out that kissing and hugging was only a form of agitation they had chosen to raise awareness against moral policing, Rahul said it was precisely due to the novel form of protest they had adopted that so much heat had been generated.
"Because we selected this form of protest, everyone is discussing it. We want to create awareness against moral policing," they said.
The event has received huge support on social media as well as from a few young Congress and CPM workers in Kerala.