Posted June 17th, 2008 - A group of Sikhs protesters attacked the Mumbai MTV office alleging misrepresentation of their community in a recent poster to promote the music channels new career-based reality show ‘On the Job.’
One of the MTV staffers got minor injuries.
The poster, which was put up all through Mumbai to promote the show, was also placed outside the office.
In a recent publicity campaign, the channel has used the visual of a Sikh man peeping into a room where a woman is massaging a man, and the tagline of the poster was ‘Jobs your parents won’t understand.’
Mr. Sunil Deshmukh, senior police inspector of Matunga police station, said, “The poster has offended members of the Sikh community. They reached to office to ask MTV to pull down the hoardings but there was an argument which later led to stone throwing and destruction of property.â€
Around sixty nine members of the Sikh community were detained by the Bhoiwada police for various assaults, including unlawful assembly, but were taken to Matunga police station due to space shortage.
“They have now been released on bail,†said Mr. Sunil Deshmukh.
Aashish Patil, general manager of MTV India said, “We have no idea about their objective or motive behind this act. We have lodged a complaint with the necessary law enforcement agency.â€
The protesters entered the office of the music channel around 3.30 pm and went on rampage. They tore posters, broke window panes, office property and equipment in the protest.
An MTV staffer told, “They overturned the reception desk and even threw computers and other equipment inside the office. We are completely taken aback.â€
-by Ashok Rao
