The Papon kiss controversy has forced India’s National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to revise its guidelines for minors in television industry.
The commission is expected to introduce some stringent measures to ensure children working in television aren’t exploited.
“We will take suggestions from all stakeholders, including TV channels, parents and child experts. It’s a time consuming activity. There are certain legal provisions like Juvenile Justice Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act and Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, we are going to consider them as well,” a source in the Commission said, reported News18.
NCPCR decided to amend their rules after a video emerged of singer-cum-composer Papon planting a kiss on a girl’s lips during Holi celebrations of a singing reality show. Shortly after the video went viral, the child rights’ commission sent notice to Papon as well as the television channel.
Papon defended his actions, saying it was “just a case of faulty camera angles and an accidental move.”
Taking to social media, he said: “Please note that a girl in question and her family have gone on record and stated that what is being depicted is not what actually transpired and it is in fact just a case of faulty camera angles and an accidental move and not a sexual assault as being reported. The said incident transpired in the presence of personnel from the reality show and there is nothing objectionable about it.”
“My humble request to everyone, when you do come across this matter is to just pause and think about how much harm this does to the people involved. I have a loving wife of over 14 years and two young children. There is a little girl involved, whose identity is not masked in any way. Both of our families are being destroyed forever, just by people jumping to conclusions,” he continued.
The Bollywood singer added, “However, this is not to say that I haven’t made a mistake. I might have done it spontaneously but in today’s environment, to touch a girl child, however innocent your thoughts are, is not advisable. I am sorry for that. Please do accuse me of being naïve and stupid even but please do not call me all those disgusting names.”
