Ex-DCW chief calls for ban on Sunny Leone's condom ad on TV

New Delhi, Sep 3: Former chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women Barkha Shukla Singh today condemned the advertisement of condom featuring Sunny Leone saying it serves "immorality and bad practices" to the people and urged government to immediately withdraw the commercial from TV.

"...The shabby, ugly or immoral way the actress seduces or sexually provokes a man in the advertisement to use condoms is nothing but serving immorality and bad practice to the audience of the country which is not acceptable in a country of moral values, ethics, religious values and spiritualism renowned as abode of gods around the globe," Singh said.

Expressing "anguish" about the "highly immoral and deplorable" advertisement, Singh urged the Minister of State for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to immediately withdraw the advertisement from TV channels.

"While expressing my serious concerns, protest and condemnation for this highly anti-moral, anti-women and objectionable advertisement being telecast in TV channels, I urge you to immediately withdraw this advertisement," Singh said in a letter to the Minister.

Speaking in the same line with a senior CPI leader Atul Anjan, the former DCW chief also upheld that the advertisement will directly amount to provoking men with ulterior mindset who view women as an object of sexual lust to commit physical assaults, eve teasing or even rape.

"It sounds ridiculous that on one hand the so called leaders of our country and ruling party talk about women safety and security, whereas on the other hand make women an object of display and sex through advertisements which are highly uncalled for," she said.

Warning authorities, Singh said if the advertisement was not banned immediately, the women community of the capital will take to the streets to "register their protest and gherao those responsible".

CPI leader Anjan has demanded a ban on the condom ad featuring Leone, contending that the "disgusting and dirty" ad could lead to increase in rape incidents.

PTI