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Andhra Pradesh Education, IT and Electronics Minister Nara Lokesh has urged Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM K Pawan Kalyan to ban derogatory dialogues in films and web series targeting women.
“I am sincerely requesting the Chief Minister and Deputy CM to seriously consider the proposal of banning films that come with abusive and regressive comments against women. If there is any particular dialogue or a scene in a film that hurts the sentiments of women, then the film must not be played in theatres till this content is removed,” Lokesh said during the launch of free bus travel programme, at the Pandit Nehru Bus Station in Vijayawada on Friday, August 15.
The Minister said that the screening of film or webseries containing sexist dialogues against women should be halted until a legislation is enacted.
While speaking about the empowerment of women, he recalled the humiliation of his mother in the Assembly by the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP). “My mother took three months to recover from an instance of public humiliation in the Assembly. We must put an end to such language.”
The Minister also said the free bus travel initiative will ease the financial burden on female students and working women, saving them Rs 1,500 monthly.
Reiterating the appeal on Sunday, August 17, Lokesh wrote on X, “Respect for women is the foundation of a truly civilized society. What our children see at home and on screen shapes their values. Time has come to end casual sexism & derogatory dialogues in films and serials. Let’s set the right example.”