Kerala engineering students 'lap up' opportunity to respond to moral policing
Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 21: A bus stop bench here reduced to three separate seats as an alleged moral policing measure to prevent girls and boys from sitting together prompted students of both sexes from a nearby engineering college to sit on each others laps and post pictures of the same online.
While Thiruvananthapuram city Mayor Arya S Rajendran appreciated the stand taken by the students, residents of the area said they do not approve of the conduct and behaviour of the CET students inside the bus stand during the day and even late at night.
However, the residents denied that the seats were deliberately separated into three to dissuade the students. The bench was converted into three seats as part of renovating the dilapidated structure and keeping in mind COVID-19 guidelines to maintain social distancing, they claimed.
Rajendran visited the area on Thursday after the photographs posted on social media by the students of College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET) went viral.
After visiting the area, the Mayor, in a Facebook post, said the manner in which the bench was cut into three seats was not only "inappropriate", but also "unbecoming of a progressive society" like that of Kerala.
She said that there is no ban on girls and boys sitting together in our state and those who still believe there should be such a prohibition are still living in ancient times.
"One can only sympathise with those who do not understand that times have changed," she added.
She also told media present there that residents of the area have a different way of thinking as many of them are old timers.
Engineering students from CET, who were present when the mayor visited, told scribes that this was not the first time they were faced with such a situation.
They face moral policing on a regular basis whenever they are walking around in that area with a friend of the opposite sex.
"We have been suffering this for a long time and therefore, we decided it was about time we reacted to it. We, of course, never expected the photographs to go viral. We were just attempting to ensure that such moral policing does not occur in future.
"They should understand there is nothing wrong with a boy and girl sitting together," the students said.
The residents of the area, on the other hand, said that none of them approve of the girls and boys sitting together at the bus stand starting from early morning hours to even late at night.
"This is a bus shelter we built for people to wait for the bus. If they want to sit together, let them do so inside the college campus. We do not approve of their behaviour," some of the local residents told reporters.
They also said that the bus shelter was built by them years ago and was in a bad state, so they decided to renovate it and as part of the renovation process, the seating arrangement was converted to three separate ones with a gap in between in view of the COVID-19 guidelines on social distancing.
"Earlier also three people could sit and even now they can. Moreover, the work was hardly over. A lot of work was yet to be done. However, if the local authorities want to build a modern structure, we welcome it wholeheartedly," they said.
Appreciating the stand taken by the CET students, Rajendran, in her post, said a responsive generation is the hope for the future and the local authorities were with the students in the matter.
She further said the bus stand was dilapidated, unauthorised and lacking clearance from the Public Works Department and therefore, a new gender neutral one with modern facilities will be built there by the local authorities.
CPI(M)'s youth wing DYFI also reacted to the incident, saying those who try to impose old-fashioned moral concepts and do not believe in gender justice are a danger to society.
Such people need to realise that the world is changing, the DYFI state secretariat said in a statement and added opposition to freedom of movement and personal liberty under the guise of moral policing will not be accepted.
It said that vandalising the bus stand bench to prevent boys and girls from sitting together was offensive and unacceptable.
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Congress candidate questions PM's understanding of mangalsutra significance
Uttara Kannada: Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar, the Congress candidate for the Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha Constituency, criticised the Prime Minister's remarks regarding the Mangalsutra during a campaign meeting in Hosur Janata Colony.
Addressing attendees at the Congress campaign meeting in Hosur Janata Colony, Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar expressed her disappointment with the Prime Minister's recent statements. She acknowledged the respect the Prime Minister receives as the Prime Minister but criticized his remarks, citing the legacies of past Prime Ministers such as Rajiv Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Narasimha Rao, and Manmohan Singh.
Nimbalkar highlighted the contributions of leaders like Rajiv Gandhi, who pioneered advancements in technology by providing mobile phones that are now being used for "WhatsApp university." Additionally, she credited Indira Gandhi for her impactful slogan of Garibi Hatao, which led to transition from "half chaddi" to "full chaddi".
During her speech at the Congress campaign meeting, Dr. Anjali Nimbalkar delved into the Ram Mandir issue in Ayodhya. She recalled that the decision to construct the Ram Mandir was initially made by the Supreme Court during Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as Prime Minister. Nimbalkar acknowledged the tensions and riots that ensued following the court's decision. She noted the recent verdict by the Supreme Court, which made way for the construction of the Ram Mandir while also allocating land for Muslims.
She expressed concern over the apparent shift from traditional practices in worship, highlighting the absence of Hanuman alongside Rama in BJP's campaign materials compared to the customary depiction of Rama-Sita-Lakshmana-Hanuman in temples.
Furthermore, she questioned the BJP's reinterpretation of history and religious traditions, advocating for the preservation of ancestral teachings and practices. Nimbalkar also spoke about the importance of respecting cultural heritage and criticised attempts to dictate worship practices.
