A day after reports of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader and legislator Simon Marandi organising a "kissing competition" for the tribal people at Dumariai village made headlines, the BJP on Tuesday accused the Christian leader of tarnishing the culture of the locals.
The BJP has alleged that the contest was a part of a conspiracy to introduce western concepts amongst the tribals and has demanded a public apology from the JMM leaders.
BJP demands public apology
Simon, who is a JMM MLA from Littipara in Santhal Pargana, had said that the kissing competition was held to prevent the increasing number of divorces in the tribal society.
However, this did not go down well with the BJP, which is known to vie hard for the maintenance of Indian values and culture.
"It's a serious issue and these leaders should immediately seek a public apology from respective tribal village heads. They have no business except to lure people into alcoholism and immoral fun and frolic," BJP's senior tribal leader Hemlal Murmu told the Hindustan Times.
Lip-lock destroys tribal culture
Simon had listed the contest as a part of a two-day fair called Dumaria Mela, which he has been organising for the past 37 years.
More than 18 couples locked lips as part on the kissing contest in front of a crowd of people belonging to the Pahariya community.
Jharkhand: Kissing contest organized for married couples at a Mela in Dumaria village of Pakur on 10th December. Jharkhand Mukti Morcha legislator Simon Marandi was also present at the event. pic.twitter.com/sCS8PeMoDw
— ANI (@ANI) December 12, 2017
The opposition is of the opinion that the contest destroys the tribal culture. "JMM's Christian legislators are trying to destroy Santhal's rich tribal culture and custom by introducing the western culture, which we protest as tribal and BJP leader," Murmu said.
"It is ridiculous that such contest having prize money worth Rs 900, Rs 700 and Rs 500 for first, second and third position respectively will restrict growing cases of divorce and differences in Santhal tribal community," he added while branding the kissing contest to strengthen the relationship between wife and husband as "insanity".
A religious leader of the Sarnas Bandhan Tigga said that the kissing contest has never been part of their culture, reported HT
"It is very disappointing," said Tigga.
Murmu has said that Santhal people burnt effigies of JMM legislators at different places on Monday.
Here's a video of the kissing contest:
Kissing comp celebrated at pakur/jharkhand, organized by jmm mla saiman marandi.
— मैं सिर्फ हिन्दू हूँ (@Im_Hindu1) December 11, 2017
Shame on such types pitics pic.twitter.com/0W3EUx2LqT
