Mr Deshmukh, I object

There are five major issues I have with the Maharashtra government8217;s decision to ban dance bars across the state. One, it is a function...

There are five major issues I have with the Maharashtra government8217;s decision to ban dance bars across the state. One, it is a function of a civilised democracy to debate any government policy before it8217;s implemented. In this case, that wasn8217;t done. Or if it was, then it wasn8217;t done enough. The government can8217;t just make or change a policy without involving the people in the decision. I lay this blame partly on the government and also on the citizens. I think, for the most part, citizens have walked away from their responsibility.

Two, if the policy is crafted with the intention to keep the bar girls out of clandestine prostitution, then has the government opened up requisite avenues of employment for these girls? If there are no serious alternative options then chances are that these girls will in all probability go into prostitution. This way, the policy will be nullified.

Three, the government is also saying that they will rehabilitate four per cent of the population that will be rendered jobless because they are Maharashtrians. I find this ridiculous. You can8217;t ignore the other sections of the state8217;s population who have contributed equally to the state8217;s economy. Since when has our country started having impermeable borders between states? I think it8217;s the fundamental right of every citizen to traverse the entire country, if he or she wishes to, to seek a livelihood and they will still be regarded as Indian citizens. This kind of narrow parochialism does not behove the government.

Four, they say that bars will exist but the dancing girls will be stopped. Okay. So what are they going to do about the three Russian pole dancers at a vodka launch? And what about the group of 10 girls who dance in the middle of a corporate media launch?

Five, I think, it will be interesting to find out the precise percentage of prostitution that takes place through bar girls. We must also find out the percentage of prostitution in private flats or cars.

There are issues much graver, deeper and larger than the morality issue that the government is so bothered about. Heroine, marijuana and cocaine is available on the streets of Mumbai. There are no places for the youth to play football or rugby. These are the issues that call for urgent intervention. If you want to improve the morality of the youth then get them out of the house and ask them to get involved in nation building.

The morality of the youth depends on the parents. And if they are above 21, it8217;s their own responsibility. These are parenting issues. The government can8217;t parent us. Today they are shutting down bars, tomorrow they will stop internet porn. Where will this stop?

The writer is a Mumbai-based actor