Leone's past should not be held against her: Katju
Leone, when she was in America had not broken any American laws and that Indians were broad minded and liberal people who should take the matter in that spirit, he said.
"Sunny Leone was earning her livelihood in USA in a manner acceptable in that country, though it is not acceptable in India. Hence if she conducts herself in India in a manner which is socially acceptable in India and does not breach the social moral code in India, we should not treat her as a social outcast," Katju said in a statement.
The Press Council chairperson also said that he had not been shown anything to suggest that she is indulging in pornography while in India.
Citing historical and religious figures, he said, "Lord Buddha stayed with the courtesan Amrapali and ate food served by her, and she later became his disciple."
"Similarly, Mary Magdalene was a fallen woman (according to the Gospel of Luke as interpreted by Pope Gregory) and Jesus allowed her to wash his feet and she later became his disciple," he noted.
There
is
no
saint
without
a
past
and
no
sinner
without
a
future,
Katju
said.
A
complaint
over
the
Broadcast
Consumers
Complaint
Council's
(BCCC)
inaction
over
the
appearance
of
Leone
which
had
been
sent
to
Information
and
Broadcasting
Minister
Ambika
Soni
had
been
marked
to
Katju
as
well,
sources
said.
Leone's appearance on the Colors Channels show Big Boss has been a subject of controversy for quite some time. BCCC had recently directed that Leone does not use the show to promote her pornography business.
The BCCC, however, had not found anything in the content of the show Bigg Boss - 5 which by itself was violative of self-regulatory guidelines. As many as 38 complaints had been made to the BCCC regarding Leone's appearance.
PTI