March 2, 2017:A women’s group in Goa on Tuesday demanded removal of ads featuring Bollywood actor Sunny Leone promoting condoms and women models other popular birth control pills.
The women’s group, Ranaragini, a wing of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, has petitioned the Goa State Women’s Commission over the issue. The commission has issued notice in connection with the matter.
Ranaragini said that the advertising campaign in public places objectifying the feminine gender, was proving embarrassing to women. “A different message is conveyed on account of this. This is a very ugly scene,†the petition signed by the organisation’s Neha Govekar said.
“We have received complaints about this from many women. We, hereby, kindly request you to remove these pictures,†the petition said.
“We would like to bring to your kind notice the use of women’s pictures in contraceptive advertisements at public places. It has been observed that there is use of women’s picture in contraceptive ads at public places like the Kadamba Transport Corporation buses and elsewhere,†the petition added.
Later, speaking to reporters in Panaji, Govekar said the ads of a popular condom company featuring Bollywood actress and former adult film star Sunny Leone affixed on the Kadamba Transport Corporation (state transport corporation) buses were objectionable and needed immediate removal.
“Why should a government concern have such ads on them,†she said, adding that the organisation had no objection to contraceptive ads, but only to the objectification of women in such advertisements.
Speaking to reporters, the commission’s chairperson Vidya Shet Tanavade said notice would be issued to all parties concerned. “We have received the complaint. As a commission, we will issue notices to all parties involved and probe the matter,†she said.
