Richard Gere's kiss sets nation on fire

Hollywood star Richard Gere's repeated kisses on Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty's cheeks during an AIDS awareness program for truck drivers in New Delhi have sparked strong protests in several cities across the nation with several Hindu nationalist outfits burning their posters and effigies.

According to media reports, Hindu activists in Varanasi, Bhopal, Kanpur, Indore, Delhi and Mumbai burnt effigies of Gere and Shetty to give vent to their anger over the actor's act on stage at the programme in Delhi, calling it indecent behavior.

In Delhi, Shiv Sena activists converged at Jantar Mantar to express their resentment over the act while in Varanasi, several Shiv Sena and Bande Mataram Sangharsh Samiti activists as well as Muslims took to the streets.

In Mumbai, over 50 Shiv Sena activists converged at the Vashi railway station in Navi Mumbai where the film 'Metro' was being shot and burnt an effigy of Shilpa Shetty and shouted slogans against her, Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Ramrao Wagh reported.

None of the protests have taken any violent turn, however.

"I understand this (kissing) is his culture, not ours. But this was not such a big thing or so obscene for people to overreact in such a manner," Shetty said, in defence of Gere.

"I understand people's sentiments, but I don't want a foreigner to take bad memories from here," she said, adding, "It was done in good humour. We are actors, entertainers and I think Richard was only trying to entertain the audience."

Condemning the burning of effigies, the actress said that the people "over–reacted." "This is his culture, not ours. I understand this. But this was not such a big thing or so obscene for people to over react in such a manner. His effigies are being burnt!" she said.

Defending Gere's "impromptu act," Shetty said instead of asking him to apologize "we should be thankful to him for doing so much for the cause."

Expressing her anguish over the media's handling of the issue, she said, "I want to know from the media and people giving reactions What have they done for the cause?"

"We took out time and put money, and people are going against us, they want us to apologize. For what should we apologize, we have talked about a pertinent issue like AIDS," she said.

However, the gentleman that he is, Gere had called and apologized to her and "the Indian media and people if he has offended their sensibilities," Shetty said. "I don't think we have done anything wrong. People forget the work Richard Gere has done for AIDS in India... For whatever did on stage, remember he is a foreigner and one shouldn't expect him to behave like an Indian. I am not trying to defend him, but am only standing for the right... I don't want the Indian media and Indians to look foolish to the outside world."

"If protecting Indian culture and tradition means burning our effigies, please go ahead and carry on with your protests. But, our culture also teaches us to imbibe 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (the guest is god)," she said.

"I know it is blown out of proportion. I feel people are overreacting. Don't misuse the freedom of expression in a democracy," she told media persons.

Bollywood too came out in her defence. "If she does not have an objection, why should others be bothered? She is above 18, is grown up and knows what she is doing. I really wonder what has happened to the world's biggest democracy where every citizen has the right to expression and this reaction from fundamentalists groups is really uncalled for," actress Celina Jaitley said.

"When the mother of civilization gets obsessed with trivia, you can be sure doom is around the corner," noted social activist and movie director Mahesh Bhatt added.

Ms. Shetty, however, got support from noted Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, who dubbed the protestors as fundamentalists. Ms. Nasreen told reporters in Bhopal that since the actress was at ease with the incident nobody has the right to challenge her freedom. "Who are those staging the protest? Are they the cultural police? This is a democracy... Everybody has the right to express themselves," Ms Nasreen said.

Anjali Gopolan, head of Indian Aids prevention group the Naz Foundation, said: "I think he responded as an actor. He was playing to the gallery. I don't see anything bad."

But for the Hindu nationalist BJP and its youth wing, it has turned into a matter of izzat (dignity) and its basic problems also stem from the fact that he is a 'white' man.

The BJP, which took out a demonstration in Bhopal demanding that an FIR be registered against Shilpa, also burnt her posters in Indore.

"The indecency might have been purposefully done as a publicity stunt," said BJP supporter Lily Agarwal.

"An Indian woman's greatest asset is her modesty, her reputation and dignity. Shilpa's lack of any protest only confirms that we are still slaves of the 'white.' We will tolerate all humiliation just because we feel the 'white' is our master," she said.

"Such a public display is not part of Indian tradition," said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.

"Shilpa Shetty conquered all racial swipes to win Big Brother in England, but the Hollywood actor – by unnecessarily planting kisses on Shilpa's cheek – has not only done disservice to the AIDS campaign but has also blemished the rich Indian culture," Iqbal, who led the Shilpa Shetty Fan Club in Varanasi, said.

"This is an intolerable and obscene act. It is against the values, culture and traditions of the nation. Gere must apologize," said a protester at Indore.

"This act has hurt the sentiments of people. This should not have happened publicly," said another protester.

The Aids awareness program Seena Tan Ke focussed on India's truck driving community, with Gere leading proceedings by shouting "no condom, no sex" in Hindi.

The crowd whooped with delight and whistled as the 58–year–old clasped a giggling Shetty and kissed her on her cheek several times.

After the actress recovered her balance, Gere offered her a gallant bow.

Shetty later explained to the media that Gere was only re–enacting his moves from the film 'Shall We Dance' to entertain the audience and communicate in a Bollywood style as he did not speak Hindi.

"He was just trying to strike a dancing pose. In India entertainment means song and dance, so he was trying to do something entertaining. That's it. He didn't try to kiss me on my lips. He was just giving me a peck on my cheeks," she explained.

Gere, star of movies like 'Pretty Woman,' 'Chicago,' and 'An Officer and a Gentleman' was not available for comments as, immediately after winding up the AIDS campaign, he went off to Nepal.

Shetty had grabbed the headlines early this year when racist comments against her from a fellow contestant of the UK version of reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother was widely condemned by people. Jade Goody, who made the racist comments, was fired from the contest while Shetty went on to win it.

Public displays of affection and sex are still largely taboo in India.

In India, where over 5 million people are afflicted with HIV/AIDS, the government authorities and NGOs have been focusing on high–risk groups such as truckers, who have helped spread the virus across the country as many of them have sex with prostitutes during their journeys and infect their wives back home.