BJP MP complains against Dettol's advertisement

NEW DELHI: BJP MP Tarun Vijay today approached Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) complaining against an advertisement of an antiseptic solution.

In his complaint, Vijay claimed that the advertisement of Dettol extolling the virtue of getting 100 per cent marks is as "bad as saying fair skinned are better than dark skinned".

He claimed that the advertisement came at a time when a large number of students are preparing for exams and are already under stress and this will put them under severe pressure to get 100 per cent marks if they have to prove they are good.

Vijay demanded that the advertisement should be "withdrawn immediately, reframed and the message for a healthy, nice and ready to combat the challenges of life be presented in a cool, placid acceptable manner".

"We have received a complaint against the Dettol advertisement. The consumer complaint council will take a call at its next meeting to be held at the end of this month," ASCI Secretary General Alan Collaco told reporters.

Reckitt Benckiser that owns Dettol brand did not comment. "It is negative in its message," he said in his complaint to Collaco.

Vijay also claimed that the advertisement puts so-called low mark obtainers in bad light, increase stress on them and discriminates and abuses the millions of students who do not get 100 per cent marks.