New Delhi: Wading into the debate over
appearance of Sunny Leone on reality show Big Boss, Press
Council of India Chairperson Justice Markandey Katju on Monday
said the American porn star`s past should not be held against
her if her behaviour in India is "socially acceptable".
Leone, when she was in America had not broken any
American laws and that Indians were broad minded and liberal
people who should take the matter in that spirit, he said.
"Sunny Leone was earning her livelihood in USA in a
manner acceptable in that country, though it is not acceptable
in India. Hence if she conducts herself in India in a manner
which is socially acceptable in India and does not breach the
social moral code in India, we should not treat her as a
social outcast," Katju said in a statement.
The Press Council chairperson also said that he had not
been shown anything to suggest that she is indulging in
pornography while in India.
Citing historical and religious figures, he said, "Lord
Buddha stayed with the courtesan Amrapali and ate food served
by her, and she later became his disciple."
"Similarly, Mary Magdalene was a fallen woman (according
to the Gospel of Luke as interpreted by Pope Gregory) and
Jesus allowed her to wash his feet and she later became his
disciple," he noted.
There is no saint without a past and no sinner without a
future, Katju said.
A complaint over the Broadcast Consumers Complaint
Council`s (BCCC) inaction over the appearance of Leone which
had been sent to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika
Soni had been marked to Katju as well, sources said.
Leone`s appearance on the Colors Channels show Big Boss
has been a subject of controversy for quite some time. BCCC
had recently directed that Leone does not use the show to
promote her pornography business.
The BCCC, however, had not found anything in the content
of the show Bigg Boss - 5 which by itself was offensive of
self-regulatory guidelines. As many as 38 complaints had been
made to the BCCC regarding Leone`s appearance.
PTI
