MP minister demands withdrawal of Dabur ad featuring same-sex couple

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra on Monday said that he has directed the Director-General of Police to ask Dabur India to withdraw its 'objectionable' ad and pursue legal action if they do not take it down. Mishra was referring to Dabur's advertisement featuring a same-sex couple observing Karva Chauth. The ad shows two women watching each other through a sieve.

"I consider this a serious matter, more so, because such advertisements and clippings are made on the rituals of Hindu festivals only. They (the advertisement) showed lesbians celebrating Karva Chauth and seeing each other through a sieve. In future, they will show two men taking "feras" (marrying each other according to Hindu rituals). This is objectionable," Narottam Mishra said.

Mishra further demanded the withdrawal of the ad. "And if it fails to do so, take legal steps after examining the advertisement," he added.

The state home minister also stopped short of justifying the violence unleashed by right-wing Bajrang Dal workers on director Prakash Jha's set. Mishra backed the group's demand for a change in the name of Jha's new web series and slammed the director's work. He alleged that such television content is an attempt to deliberately target Hinduism.

Karva Chauth is mostly celebrated in North India. Married women fast from sunrise to moonrise and pray for the safety and longevity of their partners. It was observed on Sunday.