JMM MLAs kick up controversy over ''kissing competition'' for couples

Ranchi/Pakur/Dumka, December 12

Two Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MLAs have courted controversy by organising a "kissing competition" for tribal couples during a traditional village fair in Pakur district, with the BJP demanding that they be suspended from the Assembly as they had "insulted" the local culture.

However, JMM MLA Simon Marandi, who was the organiser, said the "kissing competition" was held to stop the increasing number of divorce in the tribal society.

Simon Marandi is JMM MLA from Littipara in Santhal Pargana. Party MLA Stephen Marandi was also present in the fair.

A video of the "kissing competition" on Sunday night during the fair in Jhumaria village in Santhal Pargana, around 400 km from the state capital, went viral on social media.

 In the video tribal couples are seen locked in a kiss while the crowd cheered.

BJP's Jharkhand unit vice-president Hemlal Murmu demanded suspension of Simon Marandi and Stephen Marandi from the state Assembly over the issue.

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.

Asked about the competition, Simon Marandi told PTI that the competition 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 Dumka that it was an insult to the tribal society.

The minister also criticized Simon Marandi for giving away prize to the winners. PTI