New Delhi: Actor Richa Chadha has called out Doordarshan’s senior consulting editor Ashok Shrivastav and BJP leader Kapil Mishra for their sexist comments on an advertisement promoting Chadha’s initiative helping Covid-19 patients find hospital beds across India.
The initiative ‘Find a Bed’ was launched by a youth-run organisation called IIMUN (India’s International Movement to Unite Nations) and as brand ambassador, Richa Chadha shared an advertisement on Instagram promoting the initiative.
However, Shrivastav, a senior journalist, tweeted about this advertisement in Hindi Wednesday and said: “This is a good initiative @findabed_in. But, you should have thought before choosing the brand ambassador. Now, it doesn’t matter but could have chosen better pictures of the brand ambassadors.” The tweet has since been deleted
The advertisement also featured actors Sunny Leone and Swara Bhaskar.
एक अच्छी पहल है आपकी @findabed_in
पर ब्रांड एम्बेसडर चुनने से पहले कुछ सोचा होता।
चलिए वो भी कोई बात नहीं पर कम से कम ब्रांड एम्बेसडर की तस्वीरें तो ढंग की लगा लेते। pic.twitter.com/0XS9ligr28
— Ashok Shrivastav (@AshokShrivasta6) May 13, 2021
Chadha called out Shrivastav for the tweet and said, “Shocked to find that such a misogynistic and evil person has been hired by the Doordarshan, India’s national public service broadcaster.”
Shocked to find that such a misogynistic and evil person has been hired by the Doordarshan, India’s national public service broadcaster. At a time when everyone is doing literally all they can to help, he simply cannot help but out himself as a pervert. pic.twitter.com/fCNdkBBCPp
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) May 13, 2021
Kapil Mishra defends Shrivastav’s tweet
BJP leader Kapil Mishra also shared Shrivastav’s tweet Thursday, defending his sexist comments.
Mishra wrote, “Ashok ji has asked a question in the spirit of being a true journalist. This advertisement on beds for Covid-19 patients isn’t compassionate to the situation. It is a blatant attempt to sell cheap sexuality.”
अशोक जी ने एक सच्चे पत्रकार का धर्म निभाते हुए सवाल उठाया हैं
बेड का ये विज्ञापन कोरोना बीमारी और उससे हो रही मौतों के प्रति संवेदना हीन हैं, सस्ती कामुकता को बेचने की छिछोरी कोशिश हैं
मियां खलीफा गैंग अब @AshokShrivasta6 जी के सवाल पूछने की आज़ादी खत्म करना चाहता हैं https://t.co/sqxhHm9BOL
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) May 13, 2021
To which, Chadha replied pointing out that BJP leader and former Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu had also endorsed this initiative.
Perhaps you should ask that question to @iimunofficial who made the ad. Your colleague and minister @sureshpprabhu endorsed the initiative too. आप और ये निर्लज DD creep उनसे भी तो पूछ सकते हैं ये सवाल? He’s just a call away. ये रहा screenshot. धन्यवाद https://t.co/HtPncrNodm pic.twitter.com/qkh5q2zcEw
— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) May 14, 2021
Following criticism on Twitter for his comments, Shrivastav said that he was “saddened” by the entire situation and got “unnecessarily” entangled in it.
“I unnecessarily got entangled in things I should have stayed away from. I have hurt my fans and I apologise for it,” he tweeted Thursday.
कल जो कुछ हुआ उसका मुझे दुख है। जिन बातों से मुझे बचना चाहिए था मैं अनावश्यक रूप से उनमें उलझ गया। मैंने अपने प्रशंसकों को दुख पहुंचाया तो उसका मुझे खेद है और मैं इसके लिए मैं माफी मांगता हूं।
चलिए इस वक्त जो सेवा की ज़रूरत है फिर से उसमें जुटते हैं।
— Ashok Shrivastav (@AshokShrivasta6) May 14, 2021
Also read: BJP’s Kapil Mishra building ‘Hindu Ecosystem’ team, calls for recruits on social media