Richard Gere's on-stage kissing and hugging of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty during an AIDS awareness function here triggered a plethora of protests in several towns Monday against the "obscene" act, with some people even burning effigies of the Hollywood star. 

Kissing Video	Are they Criminal	Protest and Opinoin

The function, organized Sunday evening at the Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar here, saw Richard Gere, Shilpa and brawny Bollywood actor Sunny Deol participating in the programme to raise AIDS awareness among the trucker community. While celebrating the 'Seena Taan Ke' event to highlight the contribution of truckers and the importance of safe sex practices, Gere, overwhelmed by Shilpa's appreciation, held her hand and kissed it.

Indian News	Response	Arrest Warrent

He later hugged her tightly, bent over her and planted several kisses on her cheeks in full public view.  A giggly and embarrassed Shilpa said: "Yeh thoda zyada ho gaya tha (This was a little too much)." The kissing episode has raised the hackles of several conservative groups, with reports of protests coming in from Kanpur, Varanasi (both in Uttar Pradesh) and Indore (Madhya Pradesh) and Jaipur. "This is an intolerable and obscene act. It is against the values, culture and traditions of the nation. Gere must apologies," said a protester at Indoor. "This act has hurt the sentiments of people. This should not have happened publicly," said another protester.

People came out on the streets in hundreds to protest and burned the effigies of Gere. They are demanding that he apology to Shilpa and the country. In the HIV-AIDS program, organized by the Transport Corporation of India (TCI) Foundation, the social arm of Group Transport Corporation of India and the Hero Project, Shilpa had lavished praise on Gere just before the kissing episode took place. "I thank Gere that he took out time to visit India.

It is appreciable to see how intensely he feels for this issue. And we all must recognize his efforts and give our contribution in the best possible way, for this great cause," she said, addressing the crowds. 

Shilpa had made international headlines a few months ago when British TV star Jade Goody hurled racist abuses at her on the reality show "Celebrity Big Brother".Dale Bhagwagar, spokesperson and publicist to Shilpa, said the media should concentrate on the cause of AIDS awareness rather than make an issue out of Richard Gere's kisses. Gere has been associated with the Heroes project - a three-year national initiative by him and Parmeshwar Godrej - that aims at reducing the stigma about HIV/AIDS by educating people and advocating behavioral change. According to the TCI foundation, 40 percent of the country's five million truck drivers are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. Around 4,000 truck drivers were also part of the 'Seena Taan Ke' program. 

Protest in Patna Following Richard Gere-Shilpa Shetty  Kiss

People in Patna on Monday burnt the effigy of Hollywood star Richard Gere to protest against the public display of affection involving controversial Indian film star Shilpa Shetty who he kissed in full public view while attending an AIDS awareness program in New Delhi.

Gere, the star of dozens of Hollywood movies including American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Pretty Woman, while exhorting a group of truck drivers to use condoms and practice safe sex, bent over and kissed Shetty on her cheek and hand.

Soon protests were held in Delhi, Mumbai, and other parts of the country including in Patna where the so-called 'Shilpa Shetty Fan Club' members burnt the effigy of Gere and chanted uncharitable slogans.