Do Sexy Mannequins Incite Indian Men To Commit Rape? Mumbai Officials Think So

In yet another measure designed to reduce sexual assaults and rapes in India, the civic body that governs the city of Mumbai is seeking to ban bikini- and lingerie-clad mannequins from storefront windows in the metropolis.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, or BMC, which comprises 227 councilors from all political parties, has unanimously passed such a measure, reports the Indian Express, in order to prevent “wrong acts” perpetrated by men upon women.

The proposal for the prohibition came from Ritu Tawade, a female member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, the powerful right-wing Hindu nationalist political party that is currently the principal opposition in the country.

"Lingerie mannequins promote rapes. Skimpily clad mannequins can pollute young minds. After the Delhi rape case [last December], I felt something had to be done," Tawade told Indian media.

The BJP and other right-wing groups like Shiv Sena have declared war on a number of other Western imports, like the practice of Valentine’s Day, which they feel are contrary to Indian traditional culture.

Mumbai has the second-highest incidence of rape in India behind only Delhi. The Times of India reports cases of rape, molestation and sexual harassment in Mumbai jumped by more than 15 percent from 2010 to 2011.

"It's a Western thing; our society doesn't allow [sexy maanequins]," Tawade told BBC. "It's embarrassing for girls. They come up to me and complain about display of mannequins.”

Subject to final approval by BMC Vommissioner Sitaram Kunte, city officials would be able to order shopkeepers to remove any such mannequins they deem “offensive” from the premises. The Express reports that Tawade has already asked shopkeepers in her ward to get rid of any such scantily clad mannequins.

The proposal is supported by Sunil Prabhu, the mayor of Mumbai and a member of Shiv Sena. "I have always supported women [lawmakers and councilors] in their initiatives, and I agree with her that such scantily clad mannequins do invite unwanted attention of men and the resulting surge of sex crimes," Prabhu said.

The rape epidemic in India became a global issue in the wake of the tragic gang-rape and subsequent death of a young medical student in Delhi last December.

Right-wing, conservative and religious leaders have long blamed the intrusion of Western culture, including pop music, movies and clothes, for corrupting Indian youth and inciting acts of sexual violence against women. (Explicit pornography is banned in India, although it is easily available.)

But not everyone is buying the notion that sexy mannequins lead men to commit rape. "Look at what girls wear today. They are dressed more scantily than our mannequins," Salim Faqih, a Mumbai shopkeeper, told BBC.

A female shopper named Arti Bhadra was even more dismissive, calling the proposal “stupid.” "I don't think this leads to rape. It's all about the mentality. India is backward," she said.

"Sex crimes are committed by people who have a twisted mentality, and basically if they want to be, if you like, sexually aroused, all they have to do is switch on the [Internet]. It's all over the Net. What are they talking about? It is really absurd. That is why I think 'Big Moron Corporation' is a good title for BMC," Alyque Padamsee, an advertising executive, told NDTV.

Upon final passage of the law to ban sexy mannequins, the BMC will then seek to prohibit lingerie advertisements in newspaper, magazines and billboards as well.