Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s attempt to educate his followers by sharing an advertisement about road safety backfired recently, after internet users slammed the advert for ‘promoting dowry’. The Union Minister had shared a series of videos featuring Akshay Kumar to highlight the government’s attempts to ensure six airbags in all cars. The ad in the eye of the storm features the actor dressed as a police officer. At a wedding, he taunts a father for endangering his newly-married daughter by sending her in a car with only two airbags.
The video ends with the couple in a new car, one with six bags. While sharing the clip, Nitin Gadkari wrote in hindi, “Make life safer by traveling in a vehicle with 6 airbags.”
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
Several people found the advertisement “problematic”, including Shiv Sena leader and Member of Parliament Priyanka Chaturvedi. “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& criminal act of dowry through this ad?” she wrote.
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& criminal act of dowry through this ad? https://t.co/0QxlQcjFNI
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) September 11, 2022
The national spokesperson of the Trinamool Congress, Saket Gokhale, also criticised the video. “Disgusting to see Indian govt officially promoting dowry”, he commented.
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
Many users slammed the Centre for focusing on the issue of airbags only, instead of trying to improve road design and safety in the country.
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
Several people wrote that the need of the hour is improving the basic infrastructure instead of promoting cars with six airbags.
Less than 6% Indians own cars – out of this more than half have cars without any airbags. Most fatal accidents are on bikes. Bad infrastructure is the single biggest cause of accidents. But let’s get the new GLC with 6 air bags https://t.co/50TmWRirRl
— adityadickysingh 🇮🇳 (@adityadickysin) September 11, 2022
Some users also pointed out that the couple seen in the video were not wearing seatbelts.
Sirs the six airbags were of no use because the newlyweds didn’t seem to have belted up before driving off, and they probably died after their car slammed the lamppost for the second time. Very unfortunate. pic.twitter.com/2749n178vo
— PKR | প্রশান্ত | پرشانتو (@prasanto) September 11, 2022
The Centre has pushed for six airbags in cars and mandatory wearing of seatbelts for people sitting in the back of the cars after former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry passed away in a road accident on 4 September.
Speaking at the IAA Global Summit last week, Gadkari had mourned the passing of the industrialist and promised that the government would bring in new rules related to road safety soon. Later on, the Union Minister had also asked online retail giant Amazon to stop selling clips that disable seatbelt alarms in cars.
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