Chennai Metro ad compares girlfriends to FD interest. DMK MP demands action

A Chennai Metro advertisement about fixed deposits invited strong objections from DMK MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian over its 'girlfriend' comparison. She said the wording degraded women and urged its removal.An ad displayed in Chennai Metro has drawn ire from a DMK MP. (Photo: X/@ThamizhachiTh)A fixed deposit advertisement inside a Chennai Metro coach has landed in controversy after DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian objected to its comparison of girlfriends with interest rates.The advertisement, promoting fixed deposit schemes offered by a co-operative credit society THECOS, also known as Thiruvalluvar Transport Corporation Employee's Co-operative Credit Society Ltd (TTCECS), compared its interest rates with those supposedly offered by a girlfriend. It stated that a “girlfriend may give 0 per cent interest”, using the line to highlight the returns offered by the financial institution.The advertisement was placed inside a Chennai Metro coach, where it caught the attention of Thamizhachi Thangapandian. The DMK MP shared a photograph of the advertisement on X and questioned how such messaging was permitted inside the public transport system. Objecting to the reference to women, Thangapandian said advertisements in public spaces should not compromise their dignity.“An advertisement displayed inside the Chennai Metro Rail that degrades women and portrays them as objects is shocking. It is essential to ensure that advertisements in public places take into account the dignity of women," Thangapandian said. She also questioned the Chennai Metro Rail administration over allowing the advertisement to be displayed and called for its immediate removal.“It is questionable how the Chennai Metro Rail administration allowed such an advertisement. I request that this advertisement be removed immediately, and appropriate action be taken to prevent such advertisements from appearing in the future," she said.See the post:The MP further stressed the reach of the Chennai Metro, pointing out that lakhs of people use the network every day. She argued that advertisements displayed in such widely accessed public spaces can influence the people who see them, making it important for authorities to scrutinise their messaging.- EndsPublished By: Srimoyee ChowdhuryPublished On: Sep 6, 2026 18:31 IST