Gay right activist Harish Iyer
Bombay Times came up with an editorial by the managing editor on Monday justifying the video on Deepika Padukone tweeted by Times of India last week, and countering Deepika’s objection against it . Gay right activist Harish Iyer responded angrily to the Times Group’s reaction.
He says to the media, “Shame on you Bombay Times for repeating what you did with Deepika Padukone in a bid to make a point.I may choose to wear an underwear in a film, may choose to look sexy. But the same thing becomes vulgar and cheap if there is a picture of mine in my undies with an arrow pointing towards what bursts out of my briefs. The difference is just as much as between Deepika choosing to make a clean breast and keeping her breast clean.”
He further added, “In keeping with the same thought I feel pity for the journalist who wrote the retort today in Bombay Times. She gives impetus to trites like ” aurat hi aurat ki dushman hai” (A woman is another woman’s villain). Poor she. Bad day for feminism.”
He expressed his view about the newsagency group, “The arrogance of Times of India is famously infamous. While I have some absolutely lovely journalist friends there who have their heart in the right place, the brand seems to be riding on a cloud of evaporated egos. I wish the old lady of boribander, stands up against this nonsensical retort by their paper.”
He also says, “It is easy to say that Deepika did things for publicity as her film was releasing at the time, but in the same vein, BT does things only for publicity, in fact, it is an advertorial not a newspaper. Meaning most articles there are paid for. Irrespective of what the timing of Deepika’s ire is, it is justified.”
He points out valid point, “If I were to pick a photograph of a female journalist and say “doesn’t she look sexy” it could be seen as a compliment… But if I point an arrow on her panty or breasts and say “chaddis” or “boobies”- how sexy would that be?”
Meanwhile, Harish Iyer has told a news organisation that he intends to file a complaint with the National Commission for Women for (in his words) “Outraging the modesty of a woman by publishing and republishing her photograph with a pointer on her breasts.”