BMC moves to cover up lingerie mannequins

MUMBAI: The civic body that governs Mumbai plans to ban the display of bikini-clad mannequins in public places, a move it says will help reduce sex crimes against women.

The Shiv Sena-led Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday provisionally cleared the proposal, threatening action against shopkeepers and hawkers who display mannequins clad in ladies’ undergarments.

The general body of the BMC, comprising 227 corporators from across parties, has sent the proposal to its commissioner Sitaram Kunte, who will take a final call on the issue. If the proposal is cleared, shops, malls, fashion establishments and even entertainment centres in the city will have to remove the “revealing” mannequins.

Shiv Sena councillor Ritu Tawde who presented the proposal demanding a ban on mannequins received support from members of the ruling parties, Shiv Sena and BJP. The Mayor of Mumbai, Sunil Prabhu of Shiv Sena, also endorsed the proposal.