Shiv Sena leader Harikumar says Shiv Sena activists were scolding the youngsters like teachers. Photos: File/Tony Dominic-OnmanoramaKochi: Hours after 20 Shiv Sena activists attacked young couples at Marine Drive in Kochi in an act of moral policing, a leader of the outfit defended the act and said that it was an 'isolated' case.
Justifying Sena's cane-lashing on couples, Perurkada Harikumar said that the march was taken out to protect girls from falling prey to 'love trap'.
“It is an isolated incident. Men, who befriend girls on the pretext of love, take pictures of girls and abuse them sexually later. We got several complaints from parents in our Kochi office against immoral acts at Marine Drive. We decided to act based on these complaints,” Harikumar said during Counter Point, a news-based debate in Manorama News .
“I don't think Sena workers did a major crime there. They treated those youngsters like how a teacher would scold her/his students,” Harikumar added.
“Shiv Sena got information that there is a mafia running behind all these. They have even installed umbrellas along the footpath at Marine Drive to lure these girls to love trap,” he added.
Harikumar also flayed CPM and Congress leaders present at the debate for not raising their voice against sexual assaults happening in the state.
“There are bigger issues and no one wants to talk about it. The police were not acting against these immoral affairs at the Marine Drive. So, to protect our girls, we did act,” Harikumar said.
It should also be noted that Harikumar's senseless explanation comes hours after Shiv Sena supremo Uddhav Thackeray's son and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray tweeted this: "We believe that each girl must be independent and free to go wherever she wants, at whatever time, wearing her choice without fear."
