Punjab: Beauty contest in Bathinda offers NRI groom to winner, two held

Punjab Police has filed an FIR after posters of a beauty contest in Bathinda surfaced giving the winner a chance to marry a Canadian NRI groom. Police said that two people have been arrested in connection with the case.

In the posters, it was written that a competition of 'beautiful women' (only for general category) will be organised at a local hotel on October 23. The winner will be offered a chance to get married to an NRI from Canada, according to the poster.

A police official said a case has been registered under relevant sections of the IPC and the Indecent Representation of Women (Management) Act, 1986. Police said further investigation is underway.

Punjab Beauty pageant poster promises winner the chance to marry an NRI in Bathinda

This was brought to our notice by a few individuals. We have not received any complaints about this yet. Investigation underway SSP Bathinda J Elanchezhian pic.twitter.com/2kmJzzAVt8

— ANI (@ANI) October 14, 2022

Meanwhile, Punjab Social Security Women and Child Development minister Baljit Kaur condemned the incident. "Pasting posters to organise a beauty competition in Bathinda to choose a girl of a particular caste for marriage is highly condemnable," she said in a statement.

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The minister ordered the director of the social security, women and child development department to submit a report in this regard as soon as possible.

Kaur asked the deputy commissioner of Bathinda to take strict action under the relevant section of the Indecent Representation of Women (Management) Act, 1986. Kaur said the matter came to her notice through social media.

"There will be an awareness march in the city against the incident," she said, adding the desire of Punjabis to settle abroad also leads to such incidents.

(With inputs from PTI)