Women groups protest against pub culture, fashion shows

Vijayawada: Protesting against entry of pub culture and fashion shows in Vijayawada hotels and shopping malls, various women groups staged dharna here on Monday.

The protesters raised slogans against government for allowing shows which were against the Telugu culture. They said women were being showcased as a commodity.

The agitation was supported by National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and Progressive Organisation of Women (POW).

Speaking on the occasion, NFIW State general secretary P Durga Bhavani flayed the government for being liberal with managements of malls and hotels that organise fashion shows and obscene dances under the garb of business.

AIDWA Krishna district secretary K Sridevi accused the government of acting blind even when metro culture entered the city. Mumbai like club culture sneaked into the city malls and hotels. There was no check on the spread of this venomous culture, she alleged.

In her address, POW district secretary P Padma expressed sadness over some hostel girls from other places being dragged into the dragnet by the organisers of the night shows.

Other leaders who spoke also came down heavily on the government for overlooking the entry of bad culture. Can anybody allow his wife or sister to dance like that in hotels, they questioned.

The agitators said that the police were not acting against the culprits even though they witness college-going girls visit these places and dance for money. Those attending these shows were influential and financially sound. They can buy a woman like a commodity, they lamented.

All India Youth Federation (AIYF) district president Arun Kumar, Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) district secretary N Nageswara Rao and others also spoke. Activists of the groups raised slogans for immediate action by the government to check fashion shows and dances.