We Need A Safe City, More Than Smart City! Protesting Youth Raise Voices against ‘Moral Policing’!
We Need A Safe City, More Than A Smart City! FREEDOM IS OUR BIRTHRIGHT! Protesting Youth Raise Voices against ‘Moral Policing’! Holding placards with sayings like-” “Just Because I Move Through Public Space Doesn’t Mean My Body is Public Space”; ” Let’s Start A Movement. A Movement Of Men Who Aren’t Afraid To Stop Violence Against Women”; “Goons Who Don’t Know To Respect Women Don’t Deserve Freedom”; “Clothes Are Not Consent”; “Freedom Is The Birth Right”; “No To Violence-No To Silence”; “We Need A Safe City More Than A Smart city”; “Don’t Control Our Life”; “Stand With Women”; “Respect My Existence Or Respect My Resistance”; among many other sayings, the protesters sent a strong message to all those who are the helm of “MORAL POLICING” during a protest held on 14 February near Light House Road, Opposite St Aloysius College-Mangaluru
Mangaluru: On the outset “HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY” to all those who believe in it! Before proceeding further, kudos to all the young boys and girls for coming forward and joining in unity to fight and raise their voices against “Moral Policing”, which has been haunting the “Education Hub”, “Rome of the East”; and “The Beautiful Coastal Town” called Mangaluru aka Kudla aka Kodiyal- in whichever language you want to call it, Mangaluru is known all over the world as a destination of friendly and fun loving people- but unfortunately due to a few goons the name and fame of this city has been destroyed and put into shame. Visitors are scared to come to this Town- and you know why- because of the growing “Moral Policing” and “Communal Disharmony”. Even though India got Freedom from the Britishers, but now Mangaloreans have to fight to get freedom from the Moral Police?
It is very sad to note that Mangaluru is always in the headline news in the Media about Moral Policing, either a Hindu girl seen with a Muslim Boy at a mall or on street being attacked by saffron activists; or a Hindu girl seen in the company of a Christian youth. But why such Moral Policing happening ONLY in Mangaluru, when we don’t much of these stories in metro cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru- and for that matter, even in Goa. Why are our law enforcement authorities taking easy on all these saffron outfits? This serious issue is not a recent one because Moral Policing has been taking place in Mangaluru for last so many years. We had Police Commissioners, Police Superintendents, DySp’s, ACP’s and other top-ranking police authorities taking charge in Mangaluru, and every time they are in office they had promised that Moral Policing will end under their tenure- but ALL IN VAIN! These high ranking police officials come and get a transfer- and sadly Moral Policing still continues in Kudla, a peace-loving Coastal Town haunted by a few hate mongers!
Suhan Alva welcoming the gathering said this is a historic movement and we want to take it forward so that the present young generation want to live and walk around in the City, without the fear of being assaulted or molested in the name of Moral Policing. Thank You all for showing your support towards this fight in stopping Moral Police in the City and thereby get justice. Social activist Vidya Dinker addressing the crowd said, “With deep distress, I like to say that Dakshina Kannada district, especially Mangaluru, has been continuously targeted for ‘immoral policing’ by self-styled extremist and religious fundamentalist organizations. Our district is slowly getting converted into a flashpoint for communal tension and this, in turn, gets resonated in sporadic incidences of violence and ‘immoral policing’. Whatever is being done by the Hindu fundamentalist groups is now being imitated by other groups.”
It was indeed nice to see a big crowd of youngsters, also joined by a few adult social activists, and actors join in this fight for justice, which Mangaluru is desperately looking for, and trying to get out from the hands and activities of Moral Policing. Holding placards with sayings like-” “Just Because I Move Through Public Space Doesn’t Mean My Body is Public Space”; ” Let’s Start A Movement. A Movement Of Men Who Aren’t Afraid To Stop Violence Against Women”; “Goons Who Don’t Know To Respect Women Don’t Deserve Freedom”; “Clothes Are Not Consent”; “Freedom Is The Birth Right”; “No To Violence-No To Silence”; “We Need A Safe City More Than A Smart city”; “Don’t Control Our Life”; “Stand With Women”; “Respect My Existence Or Respect My Resistance”; among many other sayings.
She further said, ” You scratch the surface and they are all thinking along the same communal lines and this mistrust of the other. This mistrust has been growing for so long that it’s also there within every home and that is the danger. Citizens are being told by these so-called Moral Police what to do and what not to do by these goons and their anti-social outfits. An atmosphere of fear is created and perpetuated with mafia-style tactics. This trend of unofficial censorship and immoral policing is shameful, unfortunate and amounts to virtual murder of democracy. The police response to the overall issue of ‘immoral policing’ in the city and the District seems inadequate. A parallel government is being established by these criminal syndicates and citizens are losing confidence in the police and official machinery. We need to fight against Moral Policing and bring a stop to it. Period”
Tulu actress and Model, Ms Cherrie Ash also speaking said, ” It’s indeed nice to see that the youth are raising their voices and fighting for a good cause and for their peaceful lives. However, ‘immoral policing’ is a serious issue with deep political and social undertones. The diligence of the police alone is not enough to curb it. The government should express its political will to eradicate the problem once and for all. The state home ministry should play an active role and render its expertise. We see moral policing every now and then- will there be an end to it? Why is the district authorities taking any necessary measures to end this nonsense. Mangaluru is a growing town, and we are not going back to the vintage years, instead of marching forward towards a modern lifestyle. If these goons or the so-called hate mongers can’t bear to see our lifestyle they should stay inside and leave us alone- that’s my humble request and I mean it. This fight won’t stop until Moral Policing is wiped out forever”.
Kudla Mom Soujanya Hegde who was Crowned as ‘Mrs.Popular’ at ‘Haute Monde Mrs.India Worldwide 2017’ also addressing the gathering said, “Today is Valentine’s Day which is celebrated in fun and frolic all over the world, including big Indian cities. But here in Mangaluru, youngsters have to observe it in fear because of a bunch of goons who are nothing but jealous. But why do we have to budge to their orders. This is a democratic country and also stepping into a modern country. We do we have to still live like primitives. This fight should not stop just today, we need to organize such protests constantly so that a message is sent and awareness in brought in. Keep up the good work-you youngsters are doing a great job-keep fighting for your freedom”. VJ Ashiq,a TV actor also spoke and encouraged the youth to keep on fighting till the battle is won over Moral Policing.
Yes we all know India is a democratic country. Despite all this Moral Policing, boys and girls are more open now than a decade ago. Girls have more male friends now. Young people are not afraid of going to restaurants, ice cream parlours or movies with their colleagues and classmates. But sadly, many who have a choice move out of the city due to moral policing. Why are these Hindus and Muslim miscreants targeting young boys and girls, when they see them together in public. Does any law say that a boy and girl belonging to different faiths can’t walk together? Then why all this bossism by these losers aka activists-who have nothing else to do than create trouble.
The discussion about modernity and tradition, western culture and eastern values, liberty and limits has still continues and has been taken to new heights in the past few months. Self-proclaimed defenders of culture and tradition have sought to outline a woman’s ‘place’ in the society. With a strong motto of “Enough is Enough”, these youth did the right thing by holding this protest and raising their voices so that justice will come soon on their part, and that MORAL POLICING is wiped out forever.