<p>Outrage over the Shiv Sena’s moral policing in Kochi led to a dramatic face-off between the ruling and Opposition MLAs in the Legislative Assembly and spilled over to the streets in a public agitation with kisses and calls to reclaim public spaces, on Thursday.<br /><br />Congress MLA Hibi Eden’s notice seeking permission for an adjournment motion in connection with the incident was denied by Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, following which MLAs of the Congress-led Opposition, United Democratic Front (UDF), gathered in the Well of the House in protest. <br /><br />In response, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said there could be an Opposition-backed conspiracy behind the incident. “These scenes make you wonder if the Shiv Sena men were hired,” he said, enraging the UDF legislators, who charged toward the treasury benches.<br /><br />MLAs of the CPM-led ruling front responded with equal aggression, rushing in to stop the approaching Opposition MLAs. The Speaker adjourned the House temporarily before it came to blows.<br /><br />The police had on Wednesday arrested eight activists of the Shiv Sena in connection with moral policing at Marine Drive in Kochi. <br /><br />The incident happened as a group of Sena activists were taking out a march to “protest” sexual crimes against women. <br /><br />The activists caned and reportedly tried to manhandle men and women who were seated together on the water-facing promenade.<br /><br />In videos released from the location, they were seen charging aggressively at the men and women and chasing them away. <br /><br />An inspector has been suspended and constables shifted to the Armed Reserve Camp for having failed to intervene.<br /> </p>
<p>Outrage over the Shiv Sena’s moral policing in Kochi led to a dramatic face-off between the ruling and Opposition MLAs in the Legislative Assembly and spilled over to the streets in a public agitation with kisses and calls to reclaim public spaces, on Thursday.<br /><br />Congress MLA Hibi Eden’s notice seeking permission for an adjournment motion in connection with the incident was denied by Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, following which MLAs of the Congress-led Opposition, United Democratic Front (UDF), gathered in the Well of the House in protest. <br /><br />In response, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said there could be an Opposition-backed conspiracy behind the incident. “These scenes make you wonder if the Shiv Sena men were hired,” he said, enraging the UDF legislators, who charged toward the treasury benches.<br /><br />MLAs of the CPM-led ruling front responded with equal aggression, rushing in to stop the approaching Opposition MLAs. The Speaker adjourned the House temporarily before it came to blows.<br /><br />The police had on Wednesday arrested eight activists of the Shiv Sena in connection with moral policing at Marine Drive in Kochi. <br /><br />The incident happened as a group of Sena activists were taking out a march to “protest” sexual crimes against women. <br /><br />The activists caned and reportedly tried to manhandle men and women who were seated together on the water-facing promenade.<br /><br />In videos released from the location, they were seen charging aggressively at the men and women and chasing them away. <br /><br />An inspector has been suspended and constables shifted to the Armed Reserve Camp for having failed to intervene.<br /> </p>
