After Shiv Sena's demand for removal of mannequins displaying female lingerie, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Law committee has directed the civic administration for removal of mannequins.
According to Asian Age, the committee headed by Shiv Sena corporator Sheetal Mhatre, is upset over lingerie mannequins hanging from trees and being displayed alongside roads saying it is against the Indian culture and is disrespectful to women. The BMC's order was passed by the Law committee on June 17. If any shopkeeper defaults, their license would be cancelled. The BMC administration is expected to start taking action in the next 15 days.
Earlier, activists of the Shiv Sena's women's wing removed illegal mannequins from some streets and shops in Mumbai. The action came after the Shiv Sena-ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation recently asked garment shop owners not to put up mannequins displaying lingerie without the civic body's permission.
Around 30 women workers from the Shiv Sena's local unit on Saturday marched to some streets in Vile Parle area here and removed such mannequins hanging from trees and placed outside shops. They also asked the shop owners to remove such mannequin busts put up inside their outlets.
BJP corporator Ritu Tawade told the Asian Age, “The Act passed in 1986 and amended in 2012 prohibits representation of women through advertisements, in publications, in figures or any other manner. It is against the Indian culture, is obscenity and an insult to a woman’s body. I have met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on this issue. The chief minister has promised that the government shall look into the issue and take the required steps.”
Ritu Tawade in 2014, had raised a notice of motion in general body meeting saying mannequins displaying female lingerie publicly should be removed strictly as it is a violation of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986.
