Shiv Sena leader wants mannequins displaying lingerie to be removed

Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service
Mumbai, June 19

A Shiv Sena corporator has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to remove mannequins that publicly display women’s lingerie across Mumbai.  

The councillor has asked the civic body to finish the task within the next two weeks.

The license of shops that display lingerie on their windows should be cancelled, said Sheetal Mhatre, who is also the Chairperson of the BMC’s law committee.

"It is embarrassing for women to see mannequins displaying lingerie in public. One sees mannequin busts hanging from trees displaying lingerie,” Mhatre said.

Mhatre, however, said shopkeepers were free to display lingerie indoors “without embarrassing anyone”.

Mhatre’s statement has been backed by party colleagues. The Yuva Sena headed by Aaditya Thackeray has come out in support of the idea.

However, this is not the first time that Shiv Sena has demanded the BMC cancel licenses of such shops.

In the past, officials from the civic body had expressed their inability to cancel licenses on these grounds. Mhatre too admitted that this could be a problem. 

"Civic officials say there is no provision under the Shops and Establishments Act to cancel the licenses of shops which display lingerie in public," Mhatre said.

Meanwhile, Mhatre has received severe criticism for her demand online.

"Potholes can wait. Bad infrastructure can wait. Flood disaster management can wait. The real priorities of this city are illegal lingerie mannequins. Bas, yeh hi baki tha!" tweeted one user.

Plz set priority..first do some thing for to improve drainage system and cover the potholes..

— Gaurav (@Grovs07) June 18, 2019