Malekar Brothers of Edison, New Jersey has been forced to remove a pole-dancing Gandhi kit from the toys and games section of its website after it was accused of “destroying children’s innocence.”

The Malekar Brothers Web site advertises the kit with the words, “Unleash your inner sex kitten Gandhi… Simply extend the Peekaboo pole, turn on ‘You Really Got Me Goin’,’ and away you go!

“Soon you’ll be flaunting it to the world and earning a fortune in Peekaboo Dance Dollars.”

The $29.95 kit includes an 8-foot-long chrome pole, a ’sexy dance loincloth,’ a bald head wig, a false nose and eyeglasses, nipple tassles, and a DVD demonstrating suggestive dance moves.

The kit, condemned as ‘extremely dangerous’ by Hindu rights groups yesterday, was discovered by mother of three Nutan Godse, who was searching for Rama Navami gifts for her daughters, Sangita, 10, and Sanjini, 11. “Gandhi would be turning in his grave,” she said, adding, “that is, if he’d been buried.”

Dr. Alou Poorie of the Stop Hindu Insults Today Society said yesterday that the kit would “destroy children’s lives. Malekar Brothers is Edison’s number one Indian store. This is extremely dangerous. It is an open invitation to turn the youngest children on to sexual behavior.

“This will be sold to four, five and six-year olds. This is a most dangerous toy that will destroy children’s innocence. Children are being encouraged to dance round a pole which is interpreted in the adult world as a phallic symbol, and to do so in the name of the father of a nation. This is the man whose face appears on every single Indian banknote.

“It ought to be stopped, it really requires the intervention of members of Congress. This should only be available to the most depraved people who want to corrupt their children.”

Malekar Brothers agreed to remove the product from the toy section of the site, but said it will remain on sale as a fitness accessory, despite the fact that the product description invites users to “unleash your inner sex kitten Gandhi.”

Also on sale on the Malekar Brothers Web site is a strip poker game, “Auntie Poker,” which is illustrated by a picture of a reclining Indian auntie in a haldi-stained salwar kameez.

The card game is is described as a game that “risks the risqué and brings a whole lot of naughtiness to the table.

“The aim of the game is to win as many Peekaboo chips as possible. Losers have to describe aloo gobi, makhi di roti and sarson da saag as lasciviously as possible.”

The pole dance kit is the latest item to fuel allegations that major retailers increasingly sell products which “sexualize” young children.

Malekar Brothers denied the pole dancing kit was sexually-oriented and said it was clearly marked for “adult use.”

A spokes-desi added, “Pole dancing is an exercise craze made popular by Oprah and Teri Hatcher. This item is for people who want to improve their fitness and have fun at the same time. Besides, why is Gandhi the only face on Indian banknotes? Let Ambedkar have some fun too.

“But we don’t recommend it if you’re up for Indian visa renewal.”

She refused to comment on a rumored special edition of the pole-dancing kit featuring Morarji Desai and watersports. [Link]