The Kolkata chapter of the ‘Kiss of Love’ event, organised in solidarity with the Kochi event, turned out to be a damp squib here on Wednesday. The city saw two separate events being organised — one by the students of the Presidency University and the other by students of the Jadavpur University.
A handful of students turned up for the event at College Street in central Kolkata, organised by the Presidency University students. Participants arranged posters on the road in front of the iconic Indian Coffee House and voiced protests against moral policing in the country and instances of ‘fascism’ by the Centre. Participants — consisting of both present and ex students — protested against ‘Love Jihad’, an issue raked up by the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of polls in politically sensitive Uttar Pradesh.
Human chainThe event, organised by the students of the Jadavpur University, however, saw a higher turnout, claimed students.
“We walked from the University campus to the Jadavpur police station, where we formed a human chain and staged a 15-minute demonstration, expressing our solidarity with the Kochi event. We then walked to a bus stop nearby where we raised protests against moral policing,” a student of Arts department of the Jadavpur University said.
Although faculty members of the University were not officially informed, many faculty members and outsiders walked along with the 300-strong participants, the student added.
The Kochi event, held on Sunday, protested against moral policing and police harassments and saw about 80 persons being arrested. The Kolkata chapter also protested against the authorities of north Kolkata’s Star theatre, for allegedly refusing entry to a 17-year-old girl as she was dressed in a skirt.
