[icernet] Condom ads rankle Parliament

[Arul Selvan]

Thirty-four notices have been issued asking companies or television 
channels to explain the ads, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi 
Shankar Prasad told parliament. Prasad singled out leading condom brand 
KamaSutra, a joint venture between an Indian company and US-based latex 
maker Ansell. KamaSutra has three commercials on air in India.

Other members of parliament joined in the denunciation of the KamaSutra 
commercials. "The KamaSutra ad is certainly vulgar. Our children don't 
need education in this," said Krishna Bose of the Trinamool Congress 
party. Prasad stressed that condom use was still encouraged by India, 
which has struggled to slow the growth of its billion-plus population. 
"I believe in self-regulation. I have asked the channels to follow 
self-regulation and they are formulating a code," Prasad said. "I don't 
want to be a moral police but I am open to advice from the house." He 
said a decision to ban the ads would be taken only after consultation 
with the health ministry, headed by Sushma Swaraj, who until last month 
held Prasad's position.

Swaraj has in the past blasted the state-run television channel 
Doordarshan for airing condom ads, saying they encouraged sex, and has 
called for a ban on Fashion TV, which brings images of scantily-clad 
models into the Indian living room.

Source:
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