Urvashi Rautela apologizes for wearing 'Mother Mary dress' amid backlash
Bollywood actor Urvashi Rautela has reportedly issued an apology after facing backlash for wearing a dress featuring motifs of Mother Mary during her recent visit to Paris. The Watchdog Foundation, a Mumbai-based Roman Catholic group, has written to the Maharashtra government seeking permission to prosecute Rautela for allegedly hurting their religious sentiments. Here are more details on the matter.
'We had no idea images were of Mother Mary'
"We ask for forgiveness; we are really sorry," Rautela's spokesperson said, adding that the dress was made in Paris and given to her by the designer, reported Free Press Journal. They claimed ignorance about the religious images on the dress, saying, "We had no idea that the images on the dress were that of Mother Mary. It was a mistake. We came to know that later."
Rautela's social media posts sparked outrage
Her team added, "We know what we can and what we cannot do, but this is not so in foreign countries. In all probability, the dressmaker is a Catholic." Rautela had shared images and videos of herself wearing the controversial dress on her social media pages, saying she was the "first Indian actress to be officially invited to Paris Olympics 2024." Her posts quickly gained traction, causing outrage.
Backlash: 'Blatant disregard for religious sentiments of Christians'
"This act, in the guise of fashion, is a blatant disregard for the religious sentiments of Christians and is highly offensive," the Watchdog Foundation's letter read. The group cited Section 295 of the old Indian Penal Code (dealing with "insult of religion") and Section 196 of the old Criminal Procedure Code (requiring government sanction before starting prosecution) in their complaint.
'Similar procedures exist under new BNS law'
Advocate Godfrey Pimenta from the Watchdog Foundation pointed out that similar procedures exist under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) law. He also mentioned past cases where models wearing dresses with religious motifs were sanctioned. The complaint highlighted a recent controversy involving a parody of Christ's Last Supper during the Olympics, which had already caused distress within the Christian community.
Watchdog Foundation demanded Rautela's immediate arrest
The Watchdog Foundation's letter demanded Rautela's immediate arrest under the sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for "hurting the religious sentiments of the Christian community." "It is imperative that such actions are not repeated and that those responsible are held accountable to prevent further denigration of our religious beliefs." On the work front, the actor was last seen in the film Ghuspaithiya.
