Buddha govt plays morality police


Kolkata, May 30:Donning the role of the morality police, the Left Front Government has ordered that the Buladi AIDS awareness campaign — which has been running since December 2004 — be changed to omit the use of ‘‘offending’’ words and phrases.

Besides being successful, the campaign also involved government funds of over Rs 10 crore. Its reach was widespread — billboards, FM radio, TV spots, posters, community football matches and discotheques.

The government has taken the decision following objections from sections of society, including various schools and hospitals, over the use of words like ‘‘sangam’’, ‘‘condom’’ and jingles like ‘‘hum tum ek kamre me band hain’’.