Your short skirt could get your favourite club in Chandigarh to shut down
Wait, before you can fret and fume, let me remind you that something like this hasn’t been spoken for the first time.Moral policing is not just rampant but is also advocated by mighty leaders and politicians.
“Women wearing lipstick and powder are same as J&K terrorists.” – Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs
“Rape cases are on a rise in the country because men and women interact with each other more freely now.” – Mamta Bannerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal
“Girls in short skirts visiting pubs is against the culture.” – Sudin Dhavalikar, member of BJP ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party
As per the policy passed by UT’s nodal committee in Chandigarh, it can revoke permission for running business if it is considered:
- To be indecent or of a scurrilous character.
- To be seditious or likely to excite political discontent.
- Any exhibition or advertisement of scantily dressed women.
- To contain offensive reference to personalities.
- To promote hostile feelings between different classes.
- To be calculated to cause a breach of peace.
However, the draft does not define “scantily dressed women” or “indecency” and also doesn’t elaborate on sedition.
“We have framed this policy following directions from the Punjab and Haryana high court. The policy is aimed at regulating the nightlife and ensuring law and order,” said Joint Home Secretary Karnail Singh.
The policy “Controlling of Places of Public Amusement, 2016,” which has drawn a lot of flak, has come under heavy criticism for obvious reasons. It is difficult to ascertain how wearing a certain type of clothing can qualify as anti-national. The policy that came into effect on April 1, 2016, has also curtailed the bar timings by two hours, which is from 2 am deadline to 12 midnight.
It is difficult to fathom why every time we make a move that takes us a century ahead of time, something like this follows almost instantly, taking us further behind.
What is even more scary is that when something like this is announced publicly, it reinforces the beliefs we as a community are trying to change.
We still cannot wrap our heads around it!
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