Organising 'Kissing Competition' drags two MLAs in controversy

BJP demands suspension of two JMM MLAs in Jharkhan for competition in tribal area in Jharkhand. MLAs say that it was organised to 'strengthen the bond among married couples and to decrease rate of divorce'.

IndiaToday.in  | Edited By Manas Joshi
December 12, 2017 | UPDATED 05:43 IST
Photo for representational purpose onlyPhoto for representational purpose only

Highlights

  • 1
    A 'kissing competition' was organised by two JMM MLAs in tribal area of Jharkhand.
  • 2
    JMM MLAs say that the competition was meant to strengthen the bond among married couples and to decrease rate of divorce.
  • 3
    BJP has demanded suspension of the MLAs from the Jharkhand assembly for organising the competition.

Organising a 'kissing competition' has landed two Jharkhand Mukti morcha (JMM) MLAs in controversy.BJP has dememnded their suspension from the Jharkhand assembly.

The competition was oragnised for tribal couples during a traditional village fair in Pakur.

One of the organisers, MLA Simon Marandi said that the 'kissing competition was held to stop the increasing number of divorces in the tribal society. Marandi is JMM MLA from Littipara in Santhal Pargana. Another JMM MLA Stephen Marandi was also present in the fair

BJP has demanded the suspension of the twoi MLAs from Jharkhand assembly. BJP's Jharkhand unit vice president Hemlal Murmu made the demand

"JMM MLAs Simon Marandi and Stephen Marandi have insulted the culture of Santhal Pargana in the by orgnaising 'kissing competition'. We demand their suspension from the House and not allowing them to attend the winter session starting tomorrow," Hemlal Murmu told reporters at Ranchi.

It has never been a culture in the Santhal Pargana, he said, adding, "This is an insult to women power." Murmu demanded that the two MLAs tender an apology to the village heads, adding in Santhal Pargana a boy and a girl do not even shake hands.

A video of the 'kissing competition' had gone viral on social media. In the video tribal couples are seen locked in a kiss while the crowd cheered.

When asked about the competition, Simon Marandi told PTI that it was organised among 20 pairs to strengthen the bond among married couples.

Claiming that nobody is trying to understand the Santhal society, Simon Marandi said the competition was organised to stop divorce.

He said that Stephen Marandi had come only after the completion of the competition.

Jharkhand rural development Minister and BJP leader Neel Kanth Singh Munda said at that it was an insult to the tribal society. The minister also criticized Simon Marandi for giving away prize to the winners