BJP's Smriti Irani dodges questions on 'Dum Maaro Dum'

Panaji, April 21 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) All India Mahila Morcha president Smriti Irani Thursday dodged questions on whether the party's women brigade would join protests against the film 'Dum Maaro Dum', which has been called 'vulgar' by women's groups here.

In Goa to chair the party's state women's convention, Irani, who is also a TV personality, accused the media of trying to 'trap her' with questions related to the film, which has been described as 'derogatory to women' by the Congress in the state.

'I have already answered your questions. You are trying to trap me. I have been in the media,' Irani said, without stating whether the BJP would be participating in the protests organised at a city multiplex, where a paid preview of the Rohan Sippy-film is being screened.

Irani, however, said that the party had written to union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni to take steps to ensure that women are not projected in bad light in cinema and media.

'It's unfortunate that no action has been taken,' she said, adding that she has not seen the film's promos. 'But I have been told that they are derogatory.'

Promos of the Abhishek Bachchan and Bipasha Basu starrer film have stirred a controversy in Goa, especially Basu's dialogue in a promo where she says 'Liqour is cheap in Goa and women even cheaper'.

The filmmakers were forced to edit the dialogue replacing 'women' with 'relationships' after a local filed a petition at the Bombay High Court, claiming that the film was vulgar and depicted Goa and Goan women in bad light.