This Latest Road Safety Ad Featuring Akshay Kumar Is Getting Dragged For Promoting Dowry Culture. This Is A New Low!
Recently, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Transport Minister of India, went live with a few new advertisements on his social media accounts. Apparently, these are a part of the latest Road Safety Campaign and they seem to have caught all of our attention, for the worst reason possible. One of these advertisements featuring the B-town Khiladi, Akshay Kumar is making the rounds for being one of the most problematic ads showcased recently. This ad is clearly showcasing the transport department’s attempt to promote six airbags in cars. But, the way it is depicted is highly messed up and a downright horrible message to society.
How Did The Advertisement Mess Up?
In this advertisement, you see a father tearing up at his daughter’s farewell as a bride. At this emotional moment, Akshay Kumar, who is starring as a policeman and his close friend, pops up to taunt him for the car that he’s sending his daughter away in, this interrupts the moment as the father pauses to justify his choice by pointing out the many features of the car.
6 एयरबैग वाले गाड़ी से सफर कर जिंदगी को सुरक्षित बनाएं।#राष्ट्रीय_सड़क_सुरक्षा_2022#National_Road_Safety_2022 @akshaykumar pic.twitter.com/5DAuahVIxE
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) September 9, 2022
Alas, Akshay Kumar laughs and mentions how the newly married couple is being sent in a car that has just two airbags which is dangerous for them in case of an accident. So, evidently, the car is changed and then once the scene resumes, Akshay laughs and asks his friend to stop crying because his daughter’s safe now. The painful part is that the very fact that this advertisement was approved proves the fact that we still live in a patriarchal society.
After all, an advertisement which clearly not only promotes dowry but glorifies it is being shared by a government department. Like, who would expect this from the very people who are elected to supposedly, help and support us, as citizens? How should we consider ourselves safe as modern women who still face dowry culture and deaths due to the same on a daily basis, when the government itself is literally trying to lead us into the problematic past? What kind of message is this advertisement giving to society as a whole after we all have worked towards demolishing this social evil?
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Furthermore, it’s a well-known fact that these advertisements are masking a dark reality. The entire campaign was launched as a result of the death of Cyrus Mistry, the former chairman of Indian conglomerate Tata Sons. He, unfortunately, passed away in an accident that occurred on Sunday, This demise allegedly occurred due to faulty road design and instead of checking and fixing all the roads in the country, this campaign’s the government’s way of deflecting responsibility and blaming such deaths on the lack of safety features such as six airbags. I mean, this is probably something that we all saw coming, huh?
There Was A Massive Reaction To This Advertisement
Expectedly, a lot of people took to social media to tear apart this problematic advertisement and write their views about it. In fact, even the leader of Shiv Sena, Priyanka Chaturvedi, was one of them.
This is such a problematic advertisement. Who passes such creatives? Is the government spending money to promote the safety aspect of a car or promoting the evil& criminal act of dowry through this ad? https://t.co/0QxlQcjFNI
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) September 11, 2022
Furthermore, even Saket Gokhale, the spokesperson of All India Trinamool Congress, took a stand against this. He pointed out the matter of Mr Mistry’s death too.
1. Disgusting to see Indian govt officially promoting dowry. What even???
2. Cyrus Mistry died because the road design was faulty. That spot is an accident-prone area.
Amazing way to deflect responsibility by pushing for 6 air bags (& expensive cars) instead of fixing roads. https://t.co/vTiTdkeei2
— Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) September 11, 2022
Thankfully, a lot of the other users decided to take a stand, tweet and express their views against the highly problematic nature of this horrible advertisement.
Do not put such advertisements hinting car is given in Dowri.
— Ajay Chandak (@AjayRenewable) September 11, 2022
When our governments itself will promote dowry culture what could be said to the common people who is still practising this.
Why govt officials who reviewed this ad raised any questions ? #National_Road_Safety_2022 #IndianWomen @nitin_gadkari @RahulGandhi @BJP4India @INCIndia https://t.co/aPWvPBJVC0— justicekar (@justicekar) September 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/TruthHunterGeek/status/1569030006894129152?s=20&t=wH2s3sss-YMA-qDNmXohOQ
Under the #National_Road_Safety_2022 , govt is promoting dowry! 👏
— 🍉 (@talktoamuslim) September 12, 2022
Cute!!! Now fix the roads 😒@nitin_gadkari #National_Road_Safety_2022 https://t.co/A0H80WVrcx
— Manga (@swapnalt) September 10, 2022
There is no political accountability in this country.
— Risz (@Riszagain) September 11, 2022
Promoting dowry aside, are you going to tax such vehicles more ?
Or will you give tax deductions for people's safety?https://t.co/erGzVMgfYo
— ג׳יקוב | |یعقوب | Jacob | ജേക്കബ് (@Jacobji01) September 12, 2022
Are Akshay Kumar and Amitab permanent actors for bakwas ads of govt?
— Брат (@B7801011010) September 11, 2022
firstly u tell them how can I afford of six air bag car at this time…khane ke liye to chora hi nai..itni mahngayi me
— TECHNICAL JUGAAD (@TECHNICALJUGA16) September 9, 2022
Also Read: Death Of 23-Year-Old Girl In Bengaluru’s Water Logged Roads Raises Questions Against Government’s Negligence
Even after this mass reaction, minister Nitin Gadkari is clearly busy promoting the campaign. In fact, it is believed that he plans to make 6 airbags in cars a mandatory security feature this year which, unfortunately, more than half of the nation cannot afford at this point. I mean, where are we headed as a country when our taxes are being used to create such advertisements that literally shirk responsibility and promote social evil? We as a nation, need to take a stand against such moves by the government. it’s time to speak up.
First Published: September 12, 2022 8:04 PM
