Following protests, police stop Fashion Week

Following protests by women and some right-wing groups, police in Visakhapatnam on Sunday stopped the Kingfisher Fashion Week.

While the women and students demanded to stop indecent portrayal of women, some right-wing groups protested the display of Hindu gods on the clothes of a few models.

The three-day event was stopped by the police on the second day when Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) lodged a complaint that the dress of a model hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.

A police officer said they had booked a case against the organisers and stopped the show.

Apology demanded

Earlier, VHP activists staged a protest outside the venue, demanding an apology from the organisers.

Others alleged that the fashion week amounted to “exploitation of women”.

The protesters included Progressive Women’s Organisation, All India Democratic Women’s Association and Democratic Youth Federation of India.

They argued that obscenity would lead to further increase in crime against women. The organisers, however, had assured police that the models would wear only Indian dresses.

Fourty beauty queens from India and abroad were taking part in the event.
Some film personalities were also expected to attend.