Sitharaman objects to portrayal of women as commodity

Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman has taken exception to the portrayal of women as a 'commodity' and called for self-regulation.

"You are encouraging a certain theme, a certain narrative, story, picturisation, where she's made a commodity, where a woman is being projected as a doormat, and you are comfortably watching it," she said while speaking at a session on women's empowerment at the World Hindu Congress here on Saturday.

Sitharaman also sought for a change in mindset.

"Let's not pretend. There is an audience for this. I am not saying therefore it should go on. But if we are constantly telling the government what are you doing about it, I want to ask for a minute, what are we doing about those people who are watching it," she asked.

"The government will come in, but as long as we believe in the freedom of choice, I think it is for us much more than the government, to exert this freedom of choice with a certain sense of discretion and 'Sanskaar'," she added.

The three-day event, which started on November 21, is based on the theme envisioned on the Hindu principle of 'Sangachchhadhwam Samvadadhwam' (Step Together, Express Together).