On Mangalore Pub Attacks and Moral Policing

To be frank, I have not followed the incident completely except a few press statements from people concerned. On a whole I understood that the incident involved members of a group called "Sri Rama Sena" attacked a pub in Mangalore and thrashed guys and girls in the pub on the pretext that they are dressed indecently and they are behaving immorally.If it would have been a normal law and order issue wherein one group attacked another and police took charge of the situation, there is nothing abnormal with it. But some people started taking moral high-ground in this case. "Sri Rama Sena" activists claimed that they acted only to preserve Indian culture and degradation of moral standards. They alleged that the girls whom they thrashed were dressed indecently and consuming liquor. The state government ministers commented that though they condemn the heavyhanded approach of sene, but they agree that the moral and cultural standards need to be preserved. Now this brings so many questions to my mind.
Does culture and moral standard remains stagnant for ages? If yes, why are we still not roaming nude in jungles? or why are we not condemning women beind purdah anymore? Does it mean that over a period of time some things can change and some cannot? If yes, who decides (and with what right?)which aspects of life can be changed and which cannot be changed? If length of the dress is part of moral code who will specify( and with what right?) the measurements that have to be adhered to? who will set the threshold when decency becomes indecency? In any country is it enough if we live and behave legally or should we also conform to the moral and cultural standards of various groups in that country? Who appointed organizations like sene to police moral standards? Is raiding and thrashing unarmed people part of our culture and moral standard? In a democracy if the majority of people feel that there is the need for such moral policing let it be made into a law. If government believes that drinking alcohol is wrong, let it enact a law, make drinking illegal and shutdown the whole liquor industry.

My principle on culture and moral standard would be simple. Anything that is illegal in a country anyway cannot be done irrespective of its moral or cultural significance. Regarding the rest it is the parents and family who set the example and provide guidance regarding the morals and culture to the children. This coupled with the individuality and rational thinking of children will help them decide the stndard they would adhere to. No body else has the right to force their own standards on others in a free and democratic country like ours. Frogs in the well should remember that as multiple cultures interact a mossaic of various hues and shades emerges. It is natural. There is nothing wrong with it as long as it is not illegal. If the collective conscience of the natio feels that certain hues and shades are not acceptable, let them correct the laws accordingly.

PS: In my interaction withmany people in my age group at various places, I observed that urban middle-class Hindus have some affinity to BJP. But after this incident many are actually wondering(and they are scared) if this is what is held in store for the future if BJP gets complete mandate.