Sunny Leone blamed for rising rape in India after contraceptives ad

E-Paper | April 29, 2026

NEW DELHI: A senior leader of Communist Party Of India (CPI) has blamed Bollywood actor and former porn star Sunny Leone and her contraceptives advertisement for the rising rape cases in India, Hindustan Times reported.

Speaking at a rally in Ghazipur district of Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday, Atul Kumar Anjan, a senior CPI leader not only blamed the 34 year old Leone for rising rape cases but also of promoting porn in the country.

“Now there is an advertisement with her (Leone), have you seen it? She is lying down...and a man comes to her. (They show the advertisement) in the morning, at night...an advertisement for condoms, it is such a dirty and horrific advertisement that develops your sexuality and destroys your sensibility,” he told a cheering crowd.

Also read: Pemra takes controversial contraceptives commercial off air

“If such advertisements for condoms appear in the country’s TV channels and newspapers, then incidents of rape will increase. It needs to be stopped,” Anjan added.

Related: Leone dragged into rape debate

While blaming Leone for promoting porn in India, Anjan claimed that he had never watched a single porn film in his life but when he did watch porn for the first time, "do minute dekhne ke baad ulti hoti hai (After watching two minutes, I feel like vomiting)."

Backlash against CPI statement

Women's groups slammed the comments as ignorant as a backlash against Anjan spiralled on social media in India.

“Comrade - rape is caused by men's sense of entitlement and lack of concern for women's autonomy and consent. Not by pornography, naked women or any other 'provocation',” women's activist Kavita Krishnan posted on her Facebook page.

The fatal gang-rape of a student on a moving bus in New Delhi in December 2012 sparked a massive public outcry and led to tougher laws for sexual offenders.

But India's politicians have also been accused of trivialising such crimes.

A former chief minister of northern Uttar Pradesh state, Mulayam Singh, triggered outrage during the national election last year over comments about rape in which he said “boys make mistakes” and “boys will be boys”.

The central Madhya Pradesh state government's home minister also said last year that rapes were “sometimes right, sometimes wrong”.

Several politicians have also sought to blame tight jeans, short skirts and other Western influences for the country's rise in rapes, while the head of a village council pointed to chow mein which he claimed led to hormone imbalances among men.

Leone, 34, a porn star turned Bollywood actress, was drawn into a debate in 2013 on whether to ban porn outright in India following a series of brutal rapes.

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Old Ravian

Sep 03, 2015 03:18pm

It is difficult to disagree to this guy. Why is a women objectified in media? And the way women are presented in Indian movies (item numbers!!) only result in arousing carnal instincts in men. So some sick minded people might get attracted toward rape after watching soft or hard porn.

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Harmony-1

Sep 03, 2015 03:20pm

Unbelievable how some 'leaders' can be so ignorant to come up with such nonsense as though Sunny Leone is the only porn actor.

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Taimoor Khan

Sep 03, 2015 03:21pm

One of the reason we need to keep Indian bollywood and their media at arms length here in Pakistan. Now porn stars are the torch bearer of bollywood!

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Observer

Sep 03, 2015 03:23pm

Although not agreed with the Minister yet such material on Channels contributes to unethical behaviour in society

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Anwar

Sep 03, 2015 03:26pm

There are always socio-economic factors which provoked violence, rape and psychic issues in any society. Sunny Leone is being blamed for some other reasons.

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Einstein Babar

Sep 03, 2015 03:30pm

When Islam suggests modest dress for women, the world cries at its top. And I am feeling extremely sorry for the group of woman who are insisting to continue with such ads. Means I cannot believe that a woman can desire that people should watch her body.

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Truthteller

Sep 03, 2015 03:33pm

Such ads are glamourising unethical acts which certainly cannot be overruled.

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Iqbal

Sep 03, 2015 03:36pm

Indians must realise that they are neither Western or Eastern; what they are up to in their films? There has to be a limit to everything if they want to preserver their traditions, culture, values let alone religions. Natural instinct/ behaviour is affected by the environment, especially when majority is poor and illiterate. Please ponder you can't leave everything open but to regulate.

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Aditya Mishra

Sep 03, 2015 03:40pm

Insane..you can't tighten your zip & blame gals for their attire...that's gross...A rape can never be justified.....

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Satt

Sep 03, 2015 03:44pm

Only a sick man can talk like this..and believe this man is communist and not a right winger.

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Sheena

Sep 03, 2015 03:58pm

Rape is the result of extreme uncontrolled sentiments and unfortunately it is right that nudity in any form would lead to such sentiments. As a confused nation about our culture and values, India specially and followed by Pakistan also, the woman is being exploited in the name of fashion and entertainment not only by man but also by woman. once we decided that we would only follow the norms that our rich culture has provided us we would be able to fight against every odd in the name of fashion and entertainment.

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Mudassir Hussain Azeemabadi

Sep 03, 2015 04:03pm

A Woman is far noble & dignified than being an object of (arousing) desire...from Cigarette's ad to Condom's ad All Woman Right Activists should realize this!

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Fakhar waleed

Sep 03, 2015 04:41pm

Agree with him even every one disagrees with me.

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With due respect

Sep 03, 2015 04:41pm

Disgusting and non-sense.

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Noble

Sep 03, 2015 04:45pm

@Einstein Babar Dear Einstein, may be you have to step down from physics and look at the world from the perspective of biology. Before human beings were there, nobody wondered or thought about morals and all. For all those pre human animals and animals excluding humans of now have only very basic thoughts. those are Survive and reproduce. Humans beings, being part of the same evolution will obviously have same thoughts. The morale and all other bullshits were made by humans. Thats not our inherent nature. That is artificial just like most of us.

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Dipak Singh

Sep 03, 2015 04:47pm

I personally dislike when that condom ad airing on the TV in from of me with my children, Sister & mother.. I force to change the channel on that time.

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Khawaja

Sep 03, 2015 04:53pm

In reply to the tone of this writing: So you're trying to to say that fire doesn't spread by fire?

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Nasir

Sep 03, 2015 04:56pm

@being human - you can not justfiy or think to take side with any of them - both are evil

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haris

Sep 03, 2015 04:58pm

@Observer I think the CPI leader is more concerned about the way the condom ad is made. The message could delivered in a less illicit manner.

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sana-1

Sep 03, 2015 05:09pm

I like sunny leone and she is my role model.

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Ali

Sep 03, 2015 05:18pm

She is a part of the EVIL worldy system, So not just her to blame. People must work on their nafs and not get into their evil traps and agenda.

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Pakistani

Sep 03, 2015 05:18pm

If somebody is wearing golden chains and bangles in a street belonging to robbers and thief's and then somebody robs would you say that robber should have ethics or the police should be patrolling strictly. I am living in London and if you are using your mobile phone I bet it would be snatched and the London Police can't do anything. MEN are by nature incredibly attracted to women to an extent that some are crazy and rapist. Please protect your women as they are precious like jewels you show them to a certain extent. Men should have control but thats not enough to say.

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Raja Idrees

Sep 03, 2015 05:20pm

Obvisiously, that's why Pakistan can't make such movies as India. If you agree for nudity in movies and it doesn't matter if it is your daughter/wife in hindi movies then what moral values left for people who rape in India. Indeed he is right... it promotes rape.

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Rashid Ishaq

Sep 03, 2015 05:24pm

@Mudassir Hussain Azeemabadi They do not realize this way but in case, you object on their nudity then yes they can go for hunger strike even

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Sawar

Sep 03, 2015 05:25pm

It is difficult to disagree with either Mr. Anjan or Ms. Krishnan. The latter (Ms. Krishnan) is arguing from the perspective of what the society aught to be; while Mr. Anjan is expressing concern on the basis what the society presently is. In Indian (or for that matter Pakistani) society women are abducted, paraded naked in public and raped simply to settle a score with her family. This is an outcome of a mind set that evolved over the centuries by promoting misogyny in the society, There is no denying on the need to change the mindset. But that will take time; and in the interim women can not go on getting raped only because we believe that 'provocation' or 'no provocation', rape is a punishable crime. After all we don't leave our homes unlocked when going out; or our cars with doors wide open only because theft and car lifting are punishable crimes.

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Rashid Ishaq

Sep 03, 2015 05:26pm

That is what bollywood is all about

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Einstein Babar

Sep 03, 2015 06:15pm

@Noble I can snatch food and eat, I can rob to become rich, I can rape the weak, this is what animals do. If humans are also controlled by hormones then there is no difference between them and us. I understand human needs but real humans can really control for the good of others.

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Zak

Sep 03, 2015 06:22pm

@Einstein Babar I can snatch food and eat, I can rob to become rich, I can rape the weak, this is what animals do. If humans are also controlled by hormones then there is no difference between them and us. I understand human needs but real humans can really control for the good of others. Only fear of govt and payback for their actions is making humans obey law and order otherwise their will be total mayhem.

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Dipak Singh

Sep 03, 2015 06:26pm

@Rashid Ishaq Don't blame all Bollywood!!! what happen to those child in Pakistan who sexually mob. it is sick minded people who make rape or child abuse.

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kashor

Sep 03, 2015 06:27pm

Why modesty for women alone. Men have to clean up their mind and not treat women as part of entitlement.

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Unshackle Pakistan

Sep 03, 2015 06:58pm

If ads were to be blamed then West would have tonnes of rape. The question here isn't of modesty but of ownership. Who is responsible for the actions of another? Is a person wearing gold on the street to be blamed for the lack of law and order? Is a person eating food to be blamed for the actions of those who steal it? Confusing what one prefers (i.e. not to see such adds in some cases) to criminal acts of violating ownership is what's causing the confusion in minds. @UnshacklePak

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Khan

Sep 03, 2015 07:00pm

Come on...then anything can cause you to behave in a certain way.

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Taimoor Khan

Sep 03, 2015 07:05pm

@Unshackle Pakistan They do. Rapes are endemic in west as well.

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rana1

Sep 03, 2015 07:13pm

@Noble ........morals and ehtics are made to control human urges.

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Imran

Sep 03, 2015 07:15pm

Great! the comments are really enlightening. Society should take responsibility to nurture a safe and secure environment for everyone. Leaders need to create laws and people need to abide by them. This all comes with moral and social responsibility and of course education. Blaming one person for the chaos is not fair however entertainment industry need to know that there are many people who cannot afford to fulfill their desire by legal means and hence resort to rape. We all need to do whatever we can for the betterment of our culture, surroundings and most of all our kids - the next generation.

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Unshackle Pakistan

Sep 03, 2015 07:15pm

@Taimoor Khan Get your facts straight. Having incidences of rape isn't the same as it being endemic. Endemic would imply a woman walking on the street at night having a significantly high chance of getting raped. I can assure you it's not the case. Not all countries or neighborhoods are created equal but it is not out of proportion. Just because media is showing something sensational doesn't imply it's widespread.

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Imran Soomro

Sep 03, 2015 07:21pm

100% agreed with the CPI leader that obscenity develops sexuality and destroys sensibility. But it would be wrong to only point fingers at Sunny Leon. Because there are hundreds of Indian movies and programmes that promote pornography openly.

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Khan

Sep 03, 2015 07:22pm

In taking Sunny into mainstream Bollywood, India has gone farther than even Western nations. If I lived in India, I would be concerned for the safety of my daughters and sisters.

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Pakistani

Sep 03, 2015 07:26pm

Control your lust this is the whole point of it.

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Dabangg

Sep 03, 2015 07:48pm

Typical. Blame someone for your mistakes.

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Sep 03, 2015 08:31pm

@Unshackle Pakistan yeah, west do have tons of rape, reported, unreported, and the ones not even called rape by them, and that is despite all those sexual 'liberties'. Please read and be informed.

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Kabeer

Sep 03, 2015 08:36pm

Thanks god this time they put blame on poor actress not on ISI or Pakistan

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Maqs

Sep 03, 2015 09:28pm

What is right is right even if no one is doing it and what is wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it! Countries plagued by rape should identify every triggering issue including provocative media sources! Age has to be considered in each and every policy for the betterment of a decomposing society.

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nooru 52

Sep 03, 2015 09:29pm

Indian culture is nothing and finish they are taking western culture very fast in every thing like movies dramas even in common life.

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ali

Sep 03, 2015 10:04pm

He is absolutely right....

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shyam shingh

Sep 03, 2015 10:33pm

@Old Ravian It is hard for me to believe you,American and European countries have far open society than the south Asian countries as far as Bollywood is concerned when it comes to objectification of women they stand nowhere near Hollywood so please tell me why there are less rape cases in America and other European countries ?,Rape is an act of sick mentality and not every man is a rapist, implementation of law at the ground level and proper awareness in the society is the only solution to this evil blame game is not going to solve any problem the minister's statement itself shows his Short-sightedness and narrow mentality sorry to have such person as a minister.

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Naeem Sajjad

Sep 03, 2015 11:29pm

His objection is right but incomplete.These are not only intraceptive commercials which promotes rape but all the obscenity of bollywood.

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Crazy Mind

Sep 03, 2015 11:37pm

Dear Minster, rape is a product of a sick mind and a sick mind is a sick mind. Why talk nonsense about a subject that you seems to have no knowledge

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Jeetendra

Sep 04, 2015 01:45am

@Sheena - Rape has nothing whatsoever to do with emotions. Rape, mostly is not even about sex. Rape is about power, dominance and urge to hurt and abuse someone.

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malzy

Sep 04, 2015 02:50am

This is stupid, rapists never use condoms. There is enough vulgarity in Bollywood, why blame a condom commercial. The Entire Bollywood is full of nudity and vulgarity. But this is no excuse for Rape. However it is extremely silly to blame just the condoms.

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Saeeds

Sep 04, 2015 03:22am

Western countries included US media shows million time more soft core , so these countries must have the colossal rape cases .

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Ashraf

Sep 04, 2015 03:30am

indian movies and item numbers are the number one cause of rape in india. Media only displays women as a sexual object. I dont understand why indian women are blind to this fact. I am not blaming women entirely for this.Men are more to be blamed and punished.I am requesting women to please do not display your sexuality in the name of freedom.

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Desi lad

Sep 04, 2015 03:41am

Usual blame game. If watching contraceptive ads make one rape, why are hundreds of male children being sexually assaulted in Pakistan and India. Explain that !!! Point is, it is easy to blame media/movies/advertisements/western influence. Root cause is that the whole of south asia is misogynistic and patriarchal where women’s rights are suppressed. Domestic violence, sexual assault are symptoms. Ads don’t cause rapes, upbringing does. I do not agree with Modi all the time but he hit the nail when he said from the red fort – “In every home, parents ask daughters lots of questions as to where she is going, when will she return, and ask her to inform them when she reaches her destination. "But have you ever asked your son where he is going, why is he going and who are his friends? After all, the person committing the rape is also someone's son”

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Kathleen Croddy

Sep 04, 2015 04:05am

In America, where I live, The nudity everywhere, in movies and on the street has gone over board. But that is still no excuse for rape. But it does incite it to happen.

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sumaira

Sep 04, 2015 07:09am

It is fact that whatever you watch or listen it keeps place in your brain and you repeat as you hear a song you keep singing the whole day. Porn or sexually drive movies have worst effect on single and sick minded people. Our respectable pemra also ban dirty adds especially the one which has Katrina kaif and it a juice advertisement.

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Harsh

Sep 04, 2015 08:43am

First time i see indians and pakistanis comment objectively rather than sladering each other. well done.

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bryan

Sep 04, 2015 09:43am

@Einstein Babar In Goa all our women wear a skirt a few inches above the knee. It isnt uncommon to find deep neck gowns in Goa. Yet no Goan rapes! In Manila it is not uncommon to find a bunch of 16-25 yr olds in bare minimum clothes roaming around at midnight freely. Rape is not a menace in Phillipines- how? By your standards of covering up there should be no rapes in Islamic societies. Yet it is! Do not bring religion into every aspect of life.

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Ghazala Khan

Sep 04, 2015 10:23am

Hard to disagree with this guy, though the whole blame cannot be put onto the Leone.

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Sadaf

Sep 04, 2015 12:37pm

@Old Ravian Rape has nothing to do with lust and everything to do with the rapists' need to gain control and cause pain as they are sadists. Do ask experts if you are still confused.

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Sadaf

Sep 04, 2015 12:38pm

@Einstein Babar Then maybe they should be offered better jobs to support themselves and their families

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Sadaf

Sep 04, 2015 12:40pm

@Sheena Rape has nothing to do with nudity and everything to do with causing pain to the victims and enjoying their pain and gaining control. Do consult an expert

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Sadaf

Sep 04, 2015 12:55pm

@Jeetendra THANK YOU!! You are the only person who has clarified this misconception here uptil now

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jakoji

Sep 04, 2015 01:39pm

As long as you have the lower class as the largest population group (50%+ of the total population), life will not be easy for women.. As soon as the middle class takes over in numbers, the scene changes.. Middle class in every society is generally the most law-abiding, apart from being educated.. My guess - this will continue happening in India for another 30-40 years..

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holysmoke

Sep 05, 2015 10:47am

@Satt : Right wingers are not as clean and moral as they pretend! I don't know why you call him "communist". Does "communist" just mean "bad' to you? Tell us about what makes him a "communist"!

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Keen Reader

Sep 05, 2015 10:55am

Partly agree ...

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Fahad

Sep 05, 2015 12:52pm

THe culture of the rich isspoiling generations in both countries. Evil is glamourized where as righteousness is portrayed as boring. Its not sunny leone thats advocating rising rapes its the general attitude of sick minded people who have no respect for woman. Such people would even rape a woman whether she is provoking or not. Its upto men to respect. Please dear friends try to find happiness in simple normal lives dont get carried away with the glamourized world. Do wear good cloths from designer.

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Sohail

Sep 05, 2015 02:38pm

I don't think there is much wrong in promoting ads for condoms especially in region like India and Pakistan, where uneducated rural lot is unaware of birth control measures. And this seems pretty lame to blame ads for promoting rape when porn and sex in movies is common.

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SAA

Sep 05, 2015 03:09pm

Media is far advance than both of us(Indians and Pakistanis Nations) but unfortunately people are less educated and less understandable the scenario. Education starts from home. We should very careful in copying western values, style, movies, ads, and systems. Even their diet is so different than us. And giving access to them to our markets, there should be rules and regulations which suits us and our environment.

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Sunil Varma

Sep 05, 2015 05:11pm

@Desi lad ... Very well said !

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Nabeel

Sep 05, 2015 06:39pm

Why she alone, what about rest of the bold and modern bunch

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ComoEstas

Sep 05, 2015 07:35pm

@Iqbal Very nicely said. I hope someone from the Indian film industry listened to what you had said, but unfortunately their priorities are making millions with no social responsibility attached. So, in all likelihood, this trend would continue and things would get only worse. Not sure if freedom is a great thing if this is how it is going to be used. At any rate, your comments are very thought-provoking and nice to read.

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peshawar

Sep 05, 2015 10:31pm

Women cannot be blame for ill doing of mens.I dont agree with this guy.

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rana1

Sep 06, 2015 12:12am

@Desi lad .....rape of either male or female has all to do with a mind set which is provoked or perverted by an image or song e.t.c.its a matter of control of self i.e nafs.It again depends how one is raised.

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illawarrior

Sep 06, 2015 09:49am

@Imran It is possible for both men and women to exist with unfulfilled desires - rape is not the only option.

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illawarrior

Sep 06, 2015 09:49am

@Pakistani The thief is always to blame for the theft - not the victim! Same goes for rapists!

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illawarrior

Sep 06, 2015 09:55am

Rapes were going on long before TV ads were invented. If men cannot or will not control themselves, blame the men - not the women.

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