While many sensible voices on social media condemned the incident, there were a few who justified the attack on the couple.
Here’s what these trolls are saying and why they are wrong:
Troll Attack 1: The couple was not behaving in accordance with Indian culture
But what is Indian culture? Harassing people you disagree with? Spreading hatred? Public lynching? Outraging the modesty of a woman?
No, Indian culture is about peace and harmony, tolerance and inclusion.
These self-appointed flagbearers of Indian culture don’t move a muscle when women are molested in public places. But a consensual act of a couple – who were merely embracing each other - is seen as more depraved than a man forcing himself upon a woman against her will.
Forget any notions of ‘morality’, let’s look at the issue legally. The Indian Penal Code (IPC) has no clear definition of what can be construed as obscene. But common sense tells us that standing close to someone (consensually) and holding hands isn’t a vulgar act and therefore not a criminal offence under section 294 of the IPC.
If standing too close to each other is obscene then everybody in a Mumbai local during rush hour is a criminal.