Hugs in the time of hatred: Kolkata stands up against moral policing

On Wednesday, a group of young men and women holding placards in their hands offered free hugs to commuters outside the Dum Dum metro station in Kolkata.

Kolkata, May 3: At a time when the nation is witnessing unprecedented hatred with rising crime rate, a group of youngsters in Kolkata, West Bengal is determined to spread love and affection among fellow citizens.

A few days after a couple was abused and beaten by "goons" because they hugged each other inside a Kolkata metro train, on Wednesday, a group of young men and women holding placards in their hands offered free hugs to commuters outside the Dum Dum metro station.

"Hugging is a sign of affection and not a crime," said the non-violent protesters outside the metro station.

"Youngsters offer 'free hugs' to people outside Dum Dum metro station in kolkata, as a mark of protest against people who had reportedly beaten up a couple for hugging in the metro. Protesters say,'Hugging is not something visually perverted, it's a sign of affection' #WestBengal," tweeted ANI.

The incident of moral policing where the young couple was attacked mostly by middle-aged and elderly persons for their public display of affection has been widely condemned. However, many in Kolkata feel that public hugging and kissing are not acceptable in a "conservative society" like India.

In spite of protests against the assault case, till now no FIR has been registered by the police as the couple seems to have gone "underground" fearing further backlash. But those who strongly support the couple said that they did nothing wrong.

In the recent past, several cases of moral policing have been reported from various parts of the country. The latest two cases involve two students of IIT Madras, who faced the wrath of a man for hugging inside the campus, and a woman in Assam was assaulted by several men for walking with a male friend.

However, such cases of abuse and assault should not demoralise us as there are many like Kolkata youngsters who still believe that a hug can cure a broken heart and spread happiness.