Kiss ka kissa ends this year with ban on controversial kissing contest in Jharkhand
The kissing contest, organised to "promote love and modernity", didn't go down very well with the BJP and this year the contest has been banned in Jharkhand.
In Short
- No kissing competition at Siddo-Kanhu fair in Jharkhand this year
- JMM legislator from Littipara assembly seat believes contest is expression of love
- BJP criticised kissing competition saying it is not part of tribal culture
A kissing contest has been banned in Jharkhand this year.
The Pakur district administration in Jharkhand banned the kissing contest this year in the Siddo-Kanhu fair.
"The Siddo-Kanhu fair beginning Saturday will have no kissing competition this year as it has been banned and there will be no such contest taking place in any public place," Jitendra Kumar Deo, Sub Divisional Officer (SDO)of Pakur district, told reporters.
The competition in the fair, organised in Littipara block in Pakur district, had created controversy last year after photos and videos of 18 tribal couples locking their lips in public went viral.
According to an IANS report, supporting the competition, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) legislator from Littipara Assembly seat, Simon Marandi, who was the chief guest at the fair last year, said, "It's an expression of love."
The Bharatiya Janata Party had criticised the kissing competition saying it is not part of the tribal culture.
CONTROVERSY RAN AMOK LAST YEAR
Controversy erupted in December, 2017 after senior Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and legislator Simon Marandi organised the kissing competition of tribal people. Marandi on organised a kissing competition of tribal couples at Talpahari village, situated under his assembly constituency Littipara.
The kissing competition was reported in local newspapers and sparked a controversy instantly.
According to last year's IANS report, Simon Marandi said, "The kissing competition was organised to promote love and modernity. Tribal people are hesitant. The hesitation of tribal couples will end by kissing openly in the competition."
According to Marandi, it was step towards promoting understanding between couples and prevent divorces.
The BJP last year sharply reacted to the event.
"What is the JMM trying to prove by organising such a competition. There are many ways that could be adopted to end the hesitation of the tribal people. Simon Marandi has tried to make a mockery of the tribal culture and tradition," Ramesh Pushkar, a senior BJP leader, told IANS.