Arrest warrants for Gere and Shilpa over kiss

New Delhi: An Indian court issued arrest warrants for Hollywood actor Richard Gere and Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty yesterday, saying their kiss at a public function "transgressed all limits of vulgarity," media reports said.

Judge Dinesh Gupta issued the warrants in the northwestern city of Jaipur after a local citizen filed a complaint charging that the public display of affection offended local sensibilities, the Press Trust of India reported.

Gupta earlier viewed television footage of the event, which he called "highly sexually erotic," saying the pair violated India's strict public obscenity laws.

Shetty, who is currently on a religious pilgrimage in southern India, was upset by the news, said her spokesman Dale Bhagwagar. "She does hurt, she does feel low."

When Shilpa did not react after Gere kissed her suggests we Indians do not have values. The decision of the court to issue warrants of arrests is just right to discourage others from kissing in public.
Rehmat
Dubai,UAE

That is totally nonsense. Why would someone issue a warrant of arrest for public display of affection?
Ted
Delhi,India

They are making too much fuss over a kiss. How come when there's French kissing in Hindi movies no one reacts?
Shapa
Dubai,UAE

India has lot of problems to solve, like unemployment and poverty. People should concentrate on these, instead of silly matters like sharing an embrace and kiss in public.
Roy
Dubai,UAE

As an Indian I feel that Gere took advantage of Shilpa on stage. She had no choice but to act along. I agree with court decision to issue them warrants of arrest.
Sunil
Calicut,India

I laughed and it became a big joke to me when I heard that arrest warrants were issued to Richard Gere and Shilpa Shetty. If I were a lawyer, I would file another complaint against the lawyer who endorsed the idea for wasting the time of the court. The judge should also have used common sense. Gere was instrumental in promoting the awareness of AIDS in India. If good people like Gere and Shilpa - who want to help the people by doing social work - are arrested for a kiss on the cheek, what will happen next?
Gopi
Nevada,USA