Kochi: The ‘Kiss of Love’ campaign seemed to be making a comeback in Kerala as a retaliation to rising vigilantism in the state. Activists called for a protest on Thursday evening against Shiv Sena vigilantes who chased away young couples spending time at Marine Drive, a picturesque walkway in Kochi, on March 8 evening, sources said.
The Shiv Sena onslaught echoed in the legislative assembly as well on Thursday with Opposition creating ruckus after the Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan disallowed adjournment motion. The Opposition legislators were also provoked by a statement made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The session was reportedly adjourned following the opposition uproar, sources said.
However Vijayan admitted to negligence on part of the police in preventing the onslaught of canewaving Sena men, who in an apparent pre-planned attack, brought with them media persons and chased away young couples by caning and abusing them. Police failed to disperse the vigilantes. People who were sitting under the shade of trees were beaten and chased away, Vijayan said.
Yuva Sena Chief Aditya Thackeray distanced his party from the incident. “The incident in Kochi is shameful and unnecessary. The party will not shield or endorse such acts. The said persons involved in the act in Kochi, have been immediately suspended from the Party membership indefinitely,” Aaditya tweeted.
