Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has been clamouring for an increased number of airbags in cars for the last few years. He recently shared an advertisement on the use of 6 airbags in cars featuring Akshay Kumar. However, the video commercial has backfired as many users on social media, including Opposition leaders, slammed it for promoting dowry culture.
“Use 6-airbag vehicles for having safer journeys,” Gadkari tweeted in Hindi on Friday sharing the new video. The commercial shows Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar advising a father to give a better car to his daughter as the current one only has two airbags.
Member of Rajya Sabha and Deputy Leader of Shiv Sena, Priyanka Chaturvedi took a dig at the Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry, which has released the ad film, asking whether the government was spending money to promote vehicular safety or the act of dowry.6 एयरबैग वाले गाड़ी से सफर कर जिंदगी को सुरक्षित बनाएं।#राष्ट्रीय_सड़क_सुरक्षा_2022#National_Road_Safety_2022 @akshaykumar pic.twitter.com/5DAuahVIxE
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) September 9, 2022
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“This is such a problematic advertisement. Who passes such creatives? Is the government spending money to promote the safety aspect of a car or promoting the evil and criminal act of dowry through this ad?” Chaturvedi tweeted.
Trinamool Congress National Spokesperson, Saket Gokhale, also spoke out against the advertisement. He even accused the government of “deflecting its responsibility” on fixing the accident-prone roads.
“Disgusting to see Indian govt officially promoting dowry. What even? Cyrus Mistry died because the road design was faulty. That spot is an accident-prone area. Amazing way to deflect responsibility by pushing for 6 airbags (and expensive cars) instead of fixing roads,” tweeted Gokhale.
1. Disgusting to see Indian govt officially promoting dowry. What even???
2. Cyrus Mistry died because the road design was faulty. That spot is an accident-prone area.Amazing way to deflect responsibility by pushing for 6 air bags (& expensive cars) instead of fixing roads. https://t.co/vTiTdkeei2— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) September 11, 2022
Other users on the platform have also taken umbrage at the advertisement.
“This ad is the pits. Lost the plot completely. Is this about the wedding, the bride or that dowry should be 6 airbag car-what is it? These govt ads are so puerile and ill-conceived. They couldn't talk about safety any other way?” said one Twitter user.
“Only in India would the Govt spend taxpayer money to create an ad campaign promoting a punishable offence, dowry,” added another.
ALSO READ: Fines for not wearing rear seatbelt, more airbags for passenger safety, says Nitin Gadkari
Apart from the dowry aspect of the ad campaign, other users have also criticised it for trying to reduce road accidents through the use of more airbags, a feature that’s not found in the vast majority of affordable vehicles that Indians drive.
“Promoting dowry aside, are you going to tax such vehicles more? Or will you give tax deductions for people's safety?” asked one Twitter user.
Not everyone can afford airbags. Instead try to improve the road safety, design, lights, and signs as well. Many accidents happen due to dividers which people cannot see on dark roads.
— Govind Gupta (@iGovindG) September 12, 2022
Other users also pointed out that instead of promoting more airbags, more work could be done to reduce risk on highways. While Mistry’s own death was blamed on the driver, the faulty bridge design where 3 lanes suddenly merge into two without warning has been blamed by many experts for being the main cause of the accident.
This is the dangerous road which killed Cyrus Mistry 3 lanes merging into 2. In the UK the National Highway would be sued under Red Calim for damages.— Swami Bruce-Lee🇺🇦 (@BruceSequeira) September 11, 2022
This is mumbai-goa highway. This dangerous spot is at Kasarde titha, talere. can 6 airbags save life if unfortunately accident happens pic.twitter.com/rA39lEVaNx
— Uday Mayekar (@imuday) September 9, 2022
The Central government has estimated that 150,000 people died in over 500,000 road accidents in India in 2021, many of which would be alive with the use of more airbags and seat belts.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
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