Couples huddled together on the seafront are part of Mumbai's cityscape. It speaks of the human need to be in love and seek solace. But that’s the sentimental part. More practically, it speaks of Mumbai’s chronic shortage of space, especially for intimacy. Where do people who want to steal a little time away from the hurly burly go?

For years, these lovers — young, old, middle-aged — have been left alone with that accepting tolerance that is so peculiar to Mumbai. Occasionally, what was once known as the police vice squad would issue a word of warning to couples who were too engrossed in each other, ordering them to ‘disengage’. And sometimes, residents of the area where such desperate hearts flocked would voice their distress. But, on the whole, they were left alone. It was all part of the Mumbai tapestry.

No longer. The moral police have taken over the city and seem to be going berserk. They attack movie posters, magazine covers, scholarly books, TV programmes, art exhibitions and, now, lovers. Everything offends them.

Everything has to follow that unknown entity but favourite refuge of the sanctimonious: “Indian culture”. This culture objects to almost anything that might even be slightly sexual, including subjects as serious as the AIDS epidemic and sex education, and something as tragic a non-issue as people canoodling in public.

There are enough laws in India to deal with public nudity and obscenity. These ought to be sufficient to deal with those who cross the line. But the high priests of morality — who include spluttering uncles and outraged aunties — will have none of this. Their eyes are offended by the sight of a bit of hugging.

The Mumbai police have now waded in, booking several couples for obscenity. Setting aside the rising crime rate, the extortion rackets running in the city and serial killers on the loose, the cops feel that couples kissing along promenades are a big danger.

As our society moves forward, we appear to be getting regressive. We watch repulsively retrograde TV serials which degrade women and pass off as entertainment, but a loving couple fills us with rage. Mumbai is, alarmingly, showing the mentality we usually associate with small towns and villages.

This was once India’s most liberal, cosmopolitan city. It cannot be allowed to lose that because a few people have shunned perspective to shout louder than the tolerant majority. The moral police should be asked to turn their eyes away if their sensibilities are offended. Meanwhile, leave those lovers alone.