MP home minister to Sabyasachi, Dabur: Don’t insult Hindu traditions again

The comments came a day after Sabyasachi on Sunday withdrew its mangalsutra advertisement amid a backlash, saying it was “deeply saddened” that it offended a section of the society

Updated on: Nov 1, 2021, 15:58:28 IST

By Shruti Tomar

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Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra on Monday warned designer brand Sabyasachi and consumer goods company Dabur against repeating the mistake of “insulting Hindu religious traditions” or else “direct action” will be taken without warning.

A file photo of Madhya Pradesh home minister Narottam Mishra carrying the idol of Lord Ganesha on the occasion of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Bhopal. (ANI/File)

The comments came a day after Sabyasachi on Sunday withdrew its mangalsutra advertisement amid a backlash, saying it was “deeply saddened” that it offended a section of the society. The designer brand faced flak on social media as well as from a section of politicians over the advertisement portraying a woman posing in an intimate position with a man.

The campaign was withdrawn hours after Mishra issued a “24-hour ultimatum” to Sabyasachi to withdraw it or else face statutory action. Mishra called the advertisement an “objectionable and obscene” portrayal of mangalsutra, which is worn by married Hindu women.

Watch: Sabyasachi receives backlash for mangalsutra ad campaign

Mishra told journalists on Monday that after his warning, Sabyasachi withdrew the advertisement. “After the apology, I ended this matter,” said Mishra. He added they would not allow any insult to Hindu religious tradition and faith. “It was for the first time... so, whether it is Sabyasachi or Dabur, we accept that it was a mistake but we would not tolerate recurrence of such things. Next time, we would not warn them but will take direct action.”

Dabur earlier last week apologised and withdrew an advertisement featuring a same-sex couple celebrating the Hindu festival of Karwa Chauth after Mishra criticised it for showing “objectionable content” and warned of action if it was not withdrawn.

Mishra on Monday called Hindu religion a “soft target” while accusing filmmakers and companies of continuously insulting it.

He last week backed Bajrang Dal after it vandalised the set of web series Ashram 3 in Bhopal. Mishra said filmmakers will have to take prior permission for shooting “objectionable scenes” including those that may hurt the “religious sentiments”.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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