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• Date: May 28, 2011
So the moral guardians of Indian virtues have acted again. This time, with quite a heavy hand. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has ordered television channels not to broadcast "overtly sexual" deodorant adverts that use female models in racy storylines. What else can you expect from the ministry of Ambika Soni, who rose to fame and notoreity during the Emergency era?
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• Date: Mar 11, 2010
So the morally upright Indian government has once again banned FTV, albeit for 10 days. But banned nonetheless. The information and broadcasting ministry, for its part, has been extremely thoughtful in announcing the reason to the public as well.
An official statement tells us that it was noticed by the ministry that "A programme on FTV channel was telecast on September 4, 2009 at 15:37:34 hours and 19:01:48 hours showing women with nude upper body which was offending against good taste and decency." The Indian government had banned FTV a few years back on the same grounds.
Well,...
• Date: Mar 11, 2010
So the morally upright Indian government has once again banned FTV, albeit for 10 days. But banned nonetheless. The information and broadcasting ministry, for its part, has been extremely thoughtful in announcing the reason to the public as well.
An official statement tells us that it was noticed by the ministry that "A programme on FTV channel was telecast on September 4, 2009 at 15:37:34 hours and 19:01:48 hours showing women with nude upper body which was offending against good taste and decency." The Indian government had banned FTV a few years back on the same grounds.
Well,...
• Date: Aug 9, 2009
A week or so back, a court dismissed a public interest litigation. It was no landmark judgment in that sense. But it had a message for many morally-upright people in this hallowed land.
The Delhi High Court on July 29 dismissed two petitions that sought a stay on the reality show Sach Ka Saamna. The court was clear in what it said, "Our culture is not so fragile that it would be affected by one TV programme."
The point is not whether the reality show is good, bad, or ugly. But why many in this country have this innate, burning desire to play the moral police. The problem is...
• Date: Jul 24, 2009
The Greek version of the show was banned in June. Now its desi spinoff, called Sach Ka Saamna, might meet the same fate if politicians have their say.
Some snippets:
Samajwadi Party MP Kamal Akthar raised the matter in Rajya Sabha today, alleging that “obscene questions” were being asked about contestants’ personal life in front of their family members. He said the show was against the “Indian culture”. [Link]
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Four women's colleges in Kanpur have ordered a ban on girls wearing jeans and top, arguing that this will help reduce incidents of eve-teasing....
Four women's colleges in Kanpur have ordered a ban on girls wearing jeans and top, arguing that this will help reduce incidents of eve-teasing....
• Date: Jun 12, 2009
For Sushmita Sen, the chastity bogey is back.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed a judicial magistrate to inquire into a complaint filed against Sen for making "obscene and derogatory comments" on chastity in October 2006. [Link]
Setting aside a lower court order dismissing a complaint by an advocate seeking police action against Sen, a former Miss Universe, Justice A Selvam directed that the inquiry be held for offences under various sections of Indecent Representation of Women Act 1986 and Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act 1856 among others. The judge...
• Date: Jun 8, 2009
What the cops in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh can do, we in Bihar can do better. That seemed to have been the watchword of a bunch of highhanded policemen in capital Patna on June 7.
The disturbing details from the Times of India: [Link]
On Friday, sub-inspector Anita Gupta was suspended for harassing couples at the Shahid Peer Ali Khan Children's Park, located in front of the Patna DM's official residence. Senior SP, Patna, R Mallar Vizhi, said: "We have ordered an inquiry. Actually, we had launched a campaign against eve-teasers."
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• Date: May 18, 2009
Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar was arrested and later released on bail for allegedly indulging in obscene behaviour during a fashion show in March in Mumbai.
From the Indian Express: [Link]
"Akshay, who arrived in Mumbai from abroad, surrendered before the police today. He was accompanied by his lawyer," a senior police officer said. "He was then arrested under section 294 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for his alleged obscene behaviour," the officer added.
Akshay's wife Twinkle was also arrested under the same charges last month and immediately released on bail. Akshay...
