LUCKNOW, DEC 16: The ban imposed on beauty contests by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Rajnath Singh has triggered off a major controversy. While the Sangh Parivar has not only wholeheartedly supported the ban on beauty contests but also demanded a similar ban on birthday cakes and honeymoons, Opposition parties and the BJP's allies have opposed the ban and demanded that the Chief Minister review his decision.Muslim organisations and religious leaders have hailed the Chief Minister's decision. In addition, they have also demanded a ban on obscene films andposters. The Muslim Personal Law Board, Young Men's Muslim Association, All-India Garib Nawaj Welfare Society, Arpan Sahitya Sangam and Pir Bukhara Chowk hailed the Chief Minister's ``daring'' decision.Bahujan Samaj Party Vice-president Mayawati today lambasted Rajnath Singhfor the ban. ``The Chief Minister's decision shows how narrow-minded heis,'' she said and added that the action indicated the Manuvadi thought of the Chief Minister.Describing the ban as an attack on the fundamental rights of women, Mayawati said the Chief Minister should withdraw his order. If there was no ban on male pageants, then why should women's beauty contests be banned, she questioned.Samajwadi Party's state president Ram Sharan Das too opposed a blanket banon beauty contests. But he agreed on the point that there should be no obscenity in the contests. It was a matter of pride for the country that Indian girls were being crowned Miss World and Miss Universe, he said.Loktantrik Congress Party president Naresh Aggarwal also opposed the ban. Women would take it as an attack on their freedom, he said and added that theChief Minister should withdraw his order at once.Aggarwal said the Chief Minister should also have consulted the allied parties before taking the decision. ``If he goes on taking unilateral decisions his party will have to withdraw support to the BJP Government'', he said.Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Purushotam Narain Singh said the ChiefMinister's step would go a long way in protecting and developing Indian culture. ``With this daring step the Chief Minister has won the hearts of crores of Indian people who take beauty contests as an open insult to the Indian culture'', he further said.Rajnath Singh had declared yesterday that he would not allow beauty contests to be organised in the state at any cost. Such contests create an inferiority complex among girls belonging to poor families, he had said and added that beauty is the gift of nature and it should not be exhibited.
