Host Geetha is facing public wrath for making irresponsible' comments on her show.
Queer rights activists are up in arms against Zee Telugu show Bathuku Jatka Bandi in which an LGBTQ couple had to suffer humiliation from its anchor actress Geetha.
The show, which helps families with legal and financial problems etc., had aired an episode on Monday during which a 23-year-old and 20-year-old couple was insulted by Geetha with comments like ‘Cheppu tho kodta’ (I will hit you with slippers), ‘siggu leda?’ (aren’t you ashamed?) and ‘sex ela chestaru?’ (how can you have sex?), which have irked the queer community and the public. The host went on to condemn their sexual orientation and declared that the duo was committing a “sin” by being in love.
At one point, when the transman revealed that he had always felt like a man, the host asks him if his parents never “corrected” him. Geetha also suggested their families to take corrective measures to make things “normal”. Interestingly, even the lawyer and the psychologist present at the show endorsed her viewpoint.
“The show is a perfect example of ignorance. How can a TV channel which is watched by so many people spread such misinformation? We have filed a complaint with the Indian Broadcasting Foundation but action will take time. We’ve asked the channel for an apology, but nothing has happened yet. Even the girl’s parents were told to tie her up till she changes her decision,” says Madhav, a queer activist in the city who participated in the Run With Pride to bring the incident to light. However, the video has since been pulled down from Zee Telugu’s YouTube channel.
