The Mumbai Dance Bars Crisis

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Mumbai dance bars to be shut down

Apr. 13, 2005

The Maharashtra Government on Tuesday decided to ban dance bars in

the country's financial and entertainment hub on the grounds that

most of them had turned into prostitution dens and adversely affected

the youth. The state government had decided to shut dance bars across

the state, except in Mumbai, late last month. It had then formed a

committee to examine whether Mumbai should continue to have dance

bars. Officials said the Cabinet on Tuesday decided to extend the ban

to Mumbai after going through the findings of the committee. The

government felt dance bars had sprung up across the city adversely

affecting the youth, they said. Authorities alleged most bars had

turned into prostitution dens, a charge denied by their owners. A

representative of the bar owners'' association said a decision on

launching a nationwide protest against the state government's latest

decision would be taken after a meeting on Wednesday. "We may take

legal help and take to the streets to protest the government's

decision. This (the ban) will throw thousands of people out of their

jobs," said the representative who did not want to be named.

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Mumbai dance bar owners to meet today

Apr. 13, 2005

Dance bar owners across Maharashtra will meet here today to decide

about thier future course of action following the State Government's

order to shut them. "We will disclose our stand only after the

meeting," a Dance Bar Owners'' Association official said here.

Following its March 31 order to shut down all dance bars in the

State, except those in metropolis, the State government had yesterday

announced to close the bars in the city also. "The State Cabinet has

unanimously decided to shut down the dance bars in the State," Deputy

Chief Minister R R Patil said in the Vidhan Sabha yesterday. Patil,

who also holds the Home portfolio, further said the licenses given to

the dance bars would not be revoked. "In the larger interest of the

State, all dance bars would be shut down in the State, including 307

in the metropolis," Patil said, adding, the State Government would

also make running of ''illegal'' dance bars a non-bailable offence.

Patil said police, excise superintendents and District Collectors

would be entrusted with the responsibility for the implementation of

the decision.

 

Scared to face reality, authorities plan to close Bombay dance bars

to protect culture

Lara Larani

Apr. 13, 2005

It may be time for the authorities to look into the mirror and

recognize modern vivbrant India. India today is bubbly, outgoing and

prosperous. When you find your child looking at the pictures of naked

women, what do you do? Throw him in a closed room or ask your whole

city to remove these kinds of materials from the stores? Well that

will only spark more interest and inquisitiveness and your child will

focus on that only.

 

Trying to protect culture is the right idea. But to protect it by

trying to shelter Mumbai from the world is just ridiculous. Now these

things will go on cell phones, hidden under the rug and eventually

explode all over the country. The politicians and authorities who

probably use these dance bars most, were eager to keep the public

away from it.

 

Authorities have decided to close down some 600 cabarets in the

commercial capital Bombay, a government spokesman said on Wednesday,

robbing the country's entertainment hub of one of its major

attractions.

 

Interestingly, India now creates the largest number of adult movies

created at homes with non-professional video cameras and sold in and

outside the country. It is time for the old politicians to come to

life and recognize the country they have created. You cannot ask a

twenty five year old to service Western companies with Business

Process Outsourcing money and not enjoy the Western culture.

 

India's traditional culture is protected in the heart and soul of

Indian people whether they are in the country or outside the country.

It is not preserved in display cases in Mumbai or any other city that

can be jeopardized by some cabarets dance bars.