The couple who headed the ‘Kiss of Love‘ movement in Kochi in 2014 is now behind the bars for allegedly running online sex racket and for trapping minor girls for prostitution.
Rahul Pashupalan and his ‘better half’ Reshmi R Nair were cult figures for all sorts of anti-Hindutva, anti-RSS and anti-BJP forces during this time last year. They were the exponents, leaders and pioneers of a “novel way of protests”, Kiss of Love, against the suppression of and interference in the freedom of expression and freedom for man and woman to behave whatever they liked! Their fight was against ‘Hindu Talibanism’ and Moral Policing.
But, now the kissing couple is once again hitting the headlines for the last one week, again for wrong reasons. Both husband and wife, along with some others, were arrested for allegedly running online sex racket and for trapping minor girls for prostitution. Police, under the pretext of prospective clientele, trapped them in a hotel near Kochi International Airport. The Police say, a man and two women fled the spot in a car and allegedly attempted to hit the police officers; as a result one police officer had to be hospitalised with serious injuries. Six others were also arrested including minor girls and adult women.
| Finance Minister Mani Resigns over Bar Scam At last Kerala Finance Minister KM Mani called it a day. In fact, he had no other alternative than to resign from the cabinet since the Kerala High court endorsed a vigilance court order to further investigate the bar bribery case involving the master tactician of Christian politics in Kerala. The court was disposing a plea from the Kerala Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau to quash the vigilance court order. Justice B. Kamal Pasha, in his ruling, stated: “Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion. People will have anxiety about any further probe if the minister continues. I leave it to the conscience of the accused person whether to continue”. |
People heard about Rahul and Reshmi last year after DYFI men agitated in front of a restaurant in Kozhikode which was allegedly facilitating ‘undesirable meetings’ of boys and girls. Next day Bharatheeya Janatha Yuva Morcha organised demonstration in front of the restaurant. Immediately the Leftists, Congress, print media and channels jumped into the neck of Yuva Morcha, BJP and RSS. They shouted on top of their voice that RSS spearheads the attacks against women, gender equality and freedom of women. Immediately Rahul and Reshmi and their comrades declared a Kiss of Love programme in Kochi Marine Drive against the “pseudo values” the obscurantist, fascist and Hindu Talibanist forces uphold. The channel anchors made it a point to turn the sharp criticism towards RSS and associated organisations and Prime Minister Modi deliberately. Some anchors persuaded the Kiss of Love workers to kiss in front of the camera during panel discussions.
Rahul Pashupalan and Reshmi drew the attention of all who endorsed the new wave agitation. It was echoed in JNU Delhi and some varsities in Andhra Pradesh. Some Delhiwalas declared a Kiss of Love march to Keshav Kunj, RSS Karyalaya in Jhandewalan. Even though the marchers were stopped by the police much far away from Keshav Kunj, the organisers stated that they demonstrated in front of RSS Karyalaya.
They were the days of parading “opinion makers” before TV cameras. Both ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and Opposition CPI (M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) were competing each other to use it as a tool to attack the Sangh. But, the overnight celebrity couple, Rahul and Reshmi was allegedly exploiting their newly awarded “stardom” for promotion and facilitation of their online sex racket. —T Satisan
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