For Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, it is a tough call deciding whether actress Khushboo is right or wrong. The Union Health Minister and member of PMK — the party that is alleged to have triggered the protests against the Tamil actress for her comments on premarital sex — is trying hard to maintain a balance.As health minister, he says there is nothing wrong in advocating safe sex. But then he also objects to what he calls Khushboo’s ‘‘propagating premarital sex’’. ‘‘We need many more Khushboos to talk about safe sex to the country’s youth. But you cannot propagate sex outside or prior to marriage,’’ Ramadoss told The Indian Express.‘‘We have to remember that we are Indians and we have still not reached a point where we are comfortable discussing sex openly. It is not that we Indians don’t have sex. It’s just that we don’t talk about it. Even in America, nobody propagates sex for teenagers,’’ he added. The minister, however, was in denial about the allegations of the PMK instigating protests against the actress. ‘‘The PMK is in no way involved in the issue,’’ he said. ‘‘This is a very trivial issue and we have much more important things to take care of. It was protest by people and cadres cutting across party lines. Even Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa did not approve of the statement,’’ he said. ‘‘At the same time, I feel it is time to put a full stop on the subject. I will be the first one to condemn violent protest. It is the media which has given too much importance to a non-issue,’’ he added. The minister also denied that the controversy was about caste politics and political rivalry. ‘‘There is no caste politics. Khushboo is a Muslim. It is not the days of yore where you could bluff people. They understand issues now,’’ he added. As his job as a health minister does not allow him to turn a blind eye to the issue of premarital sex, he say that it is a reality in society. ‘‘I am not saying premarital sex does not happen. It happens but you cannot promote it. You can create awareness. The Health Ministry is deliberating with the HRD Ministry to introduce HIV awareness, population, environment and fitness issues in school education,’’ he said.The minister also said that his department is trying to engage celebrities to talk about AIDS. ‘‘Our brand ambassadors include Aishwarya Rai, Shilpa Shetty, Salman Khan and we also want Shah Rukh Khan. All of them will be talking about AIDS prevention and safe sex,’’ said Ramadoss.On the government’s policy on HIV, he said it focussed on abstinence before a certain age. ‘‘The first two components of ABC of AIDS awareness in India are A for abstinence and B for being faithful to your partner. Condom use is the third component. This has also been WHO’s policy internationally,’’ he said. ‘‘With the danger of HIV/AIDS how can we propagate premarital sex?’’ Ramadoss asked.HC asks Tamil Nadu DGP to put an end to violenceCHENNAI: The Madras High Court has directed the Director General of Police of Tamil Nadu to ensure that no violence take place on the issues relating to Khushboo and Suhasini. The First Bench of Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice F M Ibrahim Kalifulla gave the direction while passing interim orders on a writ petition by advocate A P Suryaprakasam, convener of the Association of Indian Lawyers Against Corruption and Oppression. The Bench also directed the DGP to file a reply to the petitioner’s representation and submit a report indicating the steps taken by the state police against violators. The next hearing is on December 2.
