'Promotes Dowry': New Road Safety Ad Feat Akshay Kumar Has Netizens Fuming

In an effort to support the government's campaign to promote six airbags in cars, the Union Minister shared the video on his Twitter account on Friday.

The grieving father is seen next to Akshay Kumar, who is portraying a policeman, as he mocks him for putting the bride and groom in a vehicle with only two airbags as opposed to six.

Source : Twitter/@nitin_gadkari

Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, came under fire online for endorsing a "problematic" campaign on road safety that included Akshay Kumar.

In an effort to support the government's campaign to promote six airbags in cars, the Union Minister shared the video on his Twitter account on Friday. The advertising received criticism online for supposedly supporting the dowry practise.

In the aforementioned advertisement, a father was seen sobbing as he said goodbye to his daughter following her marriage. The grieving father is seen next to Akshay Kumar, who is portraying a policeman, as he mocks him for putting the bride and groom in a vehicle with only two airbags as opposed to six.

Taking to Twitter, Union Minister stated: "Make life safer by travelling in a vehicle with 6 airbags."

6 एयरबैग वाले गाड़ी से सफर कर जिंदगी को सुरक्षित बनाएं।#राष्ट्रीय_सड़क_सुरक्षा_2022#National_Road_Safety_2022 @akshaykumar pic.twitter.com/5DAuahVIxE

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) September 9, 2022

Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Rajya Sabha member for the Shiv Sena, criticised the advertising by quoting Gadkari's tweet and questioned whether the government was spending money to promote dowry or automobile safety.

"This is such a problematic advertisement. Who passes such creatives? Is the government spending money to promote the safety aspect of a car or promoting the evil& criminal act of dowry through this ad?" she tweeted. 

This is such a problematic advertisement. Who passes such creatives? Is the government spending money to promote the safety aspect of a car or promoting the evil& criminal act of dowry through this ad? https://t.co/0QxlQcjFNI

— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) September 11, 2022

Saket Gokhale, the TMC's national spokesperson, also responded to the commercial by calling it "disgusting to see the Indian government publicly supporting dowry."

1. Disgusting to see Indian govt officially promoting dowry. What even???

2. Cyrus Mistry died because the road design was faulty. That spot is an accident-prone area.

Amazing way to deflect responsibility by pushing for 6 air bags (& expensive cars) instead of fixing roads. https://t.co/vTiTdkeei2

— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) September 11, 2022

On the other hand, Gadkari, earlier on Friday, hailed Kumar for his support to the countrywide National Road Safety Campaign, adding the actor's 'efforts in spreading the awareness on road safety concerns are very laudable.'

"We're committed to bringing down road accidents in India with awareness and public participation," Gadkari wrote on Twitter.