PUNE: The Maharashtra State Women Commission on Thursday said that it would send notices to commercial entities found branding, marketing and selling liquor with feminine names as brands.
This comes in the wake of minister Girish Mahajan's recent comment during an event at a sugar mill in north Maharashtra's Nandurbar district that using feminine brand names could boost liquor sales. The minister has, however, later apologized for the comment.
Commission chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar told TOI that they will seek legal opinions and carry out drives against any such initiative. She said, "We will remain in the legal purview, take opinions and then initiate action against establishments with such names."
Rahatkar said with the minister apologizing for the remark, the commission's task will now be to initiate actions within the legal framework. Members of the women commission said it was not impossible to find feminine names to liquor brands and complaints were pouring in from various sectors after Mahajan's comment.
Women leaders from various organisations said even if the minister has apologized, the thought that led to the comment is not acceptable.
Shiv Sena, in its mouthpiece, 'Saamna', has condemned the minister's comment. CPI leader Kiran Moghe said it was unfortunate that "Mahajan considers women as objects" despite being a minister. She added that it was ironical that the minister advocated branding of liquor after women even as they are seeking a ban on it.
The Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana's state unit also condemned Mahajan for "objectifying women". Other women's groups said the government has adopted a "dual approach" by talking about banning alcohol on one hand and a minister making such a comment on the other hand.
This comes in the wake of minister Girish Mahajan's recent comment during an event at a sugar mill in north Maharashtra's Nandurbar district that using feminine brand names could boost liquor sales. The minister has, however, later apologized for the comment.
Commission chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar told TOI that they will seek legal opinions and carry out drives against any such initiative. She said, "We will remain in the legal purview, take opinions and then initiate action against establishments with such names."
Rahatkar said with the minister apologizing for the remark, the commission's task will now be to initiate actions within the legal framework. Members of the women commission said it was not impossible to find feminine names to liquor brands and complaints were pouring in from various sectors after Mahajan's comment.
Women leaders from various organisations said even if the minister has apologized, the thought that led to the comment is not acceptable.
Shiv Sena, in its mouthpiece, 'Saamna', has condemned the minister's comment. CPI leader Kiran Moghe said it was unfortunate that "Mahajan considers women as objects" despite being a minister. She added that it was ironical that the minister advocated branding of liquor after women even as they are seeking a ban on it.
The Akhil Bharatiya Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana's state unit also condemned Mahajan for "objectifying women". Other women's groups said the government has adopted a "dual approach" by talking about banning alcohol on one hand and a minister making such a comment on the other hand.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
