BJP slams JMM MLA over kissing fest

RANCHI: Littipara's kissing festival ceated an uproar in the state Assembly's winter session in an otherwise uneventful inaugural sitting on Tuesday.

Even before entering the House, several MLAs of the ruling party, BJP, started criticising Simon Marandi, the JMM MLA from Littipara, for reportedly making the tribal couples display affection publicly. They said the festival went against the tribal culture and tradition.

The session's inauguration was earlier predicted to be stormy with the opposition ready to corner the government for its decision to conduct the winter sittings for only four days. However, the Littipara event, organized at Dumariya village of Pakur district, has seemingly taken the sting out of the opposition's attack.

After the session, state minister of social welfare, women and child development Louis Marandi said, "I belong to the Santhal community and as far as I know such a festival is not part of our tribal culture."

Even JMM MLA from Baharagora, Kunal Sarangi, chose to distance himself and his party from the festival. Speaking to media persons after the session, Sarangi said, "The event was organised by a private organisation and the party had nothing to do with it."

However, Marandi defended the festival which he had allegedly given support.

"The event 'Dulor Cho' was organised by a village committee and I had been invited to attend it. Dulor Cho means kiss of love and such events have been organised in the past too. The event was meant for married tribal couples.

"I feel that this event is now quite necessary for the tribal masses because of the growing number of divorces in our community. Such events will strengthen us. We should all take it in a positive manner and not politicise it. Adivasi communities now need the support of society in expressing their love and freedom in all aspects of life. Even today, tribals are timid by nature and are unable to stand up confidently in front of outsiders. Such programmes will help them get over their inhibitions," Marandi said.

However, JMM supremo Shibu Soren hasn't taken the event lightly given BJP criticism. Soren served a showcause notice to Marandi asking him to submit a written explanation on the controversy within seven days.

Earlier during the session, Pradeep Yadav, the JVMP MLA from Poraiyahat, and some other legislators of the opposition demanded that the four-day winter session be extended to discuss contentious issues.

The proposal, however, did not find any favour with the Assembly's business advisory committee.

"The duration of the session is immaterial. We should focus on optimum utilisation of the time that we have to work for welfare of the people," chief minister Raghubar Das commented on the opposition's proposal.

While addressing the media, Sarangi criticised the government's decision to take control of liquor sales in the state. "The state government should open a liquor shop on the Assembly premises. Now that it has stooped to the level of selling liquor to the masses, what is the harm in setting up an outlet here too?" he quipped.

Later, the assembly was adjourned till Wednesday after obituary references.