Mumbai's civic body bans lingerie-clad mannequins

After receiving a proposal from Bhartiya Janata Party

(BJP) corporator Ritu Tawade to ban the display of lingerie-clad mannequins outside shops and boutiques, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Council (BMC) has approved it. This means, shop windows will no longer have lingerie clad mannequins. Liberals and lingerie brands/manufacturers are up in arms against this unprecedented move.

Tawade feels that such display of women’s innerwear pollutes minds of today’s generation, which leads to crimes against women. She had submitted the proposal on April 26, which was passed unanimously on May 16.

Tawade has already directed lingerie shop owners from her ward in the central suburb of Ghatkopar to stop displaying lingerie. Tawade has the backing of Mumbai Mayor Sunil Prabhu in this regards. A general body comprising 227 corporators has now asked BMC Commissioner Sitaram Kunte to turn the proposal into a policy.

Looking at the bigger picture, the question that arises is… how can ban on lingerie display stop crimes against women?