Dabur pulls down ad showing same-sex couple celebrating Karva Chauth after MP minister's warning

Photo for representational purpose. Pic/ istock

A day after the Madhya Pradesh government decided to take legal action against Dabur over an advertisement showing a same-sex couple celebrating ‘Karva Chauth', the company has decided to withdraw the ad.

The ad pertains to Fem cream bleach, a product of Dabur India Limited, showing a same-sex couple celebrating Karva Chauth and watching each other through a sieve.

In a statement on Twitter, Dabur stated that they have withdrawn the campaign from all social media handles and apologised for "unintentionally" hurting people's sentiments.

Twitterati had contrasting views over the advertisement.

Actress Pooja Bhatt stood by the campaign and said that it's a "pity that a giant like Dabur refused to stand by their ad."

Shivani Chopra, Vice President of Indian National Congress, Delhi, posted " If rich/ powerful giants like Dabur India succumb to political bullying, a common man's fate to defeat is inevitable."

Others also came in support of the ad campaign.

Some Twitter users, however, were offended by the ad and posted against it.

On Monday, MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that he has directed the state police chief to convey to Dabur India to withdraw an "objectionable" beauty product advertisement showing two women celebrating the Karva Chauth festival and take legal steps if the ad is not taken back by the consumer goods maker.

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"I consider this a serious matter. More so because such advertisements and clippings are made on the rituals of Hindu festivals only. They (the advertisement) showed lesbians celebrating Karva Chauth and seeing each other through a sieve. In future, they will show two men taking 'feras' (marrying each other according to Hindu rituals). This is objectionable," Mishra told reporters.

The state home minister said he has directed the DGP (Director General of Police) to ask the company to withdraw this advertisement. "And if it fails to do so, take legal steps after examining the advertisement," he added.

(With PTI inputs)