NEW DELHI, March 2 (Xinhua) -- A major row has been triggered in India after a criminal case was filed against a vernacular magazine in the southern state of Kerala for featuring a woman model breastfeeding a child on its cover.

In its March issue, Malayalam (local language of Kerala) magazine Grihalakshmi published a photo of popular actor and model Gilu Joseph breastfeeding a baby as the cover text reads, "Mothers tell Kerala: please stop staring, we need to breastfeed".

While a criminal case has been filed against the magazine at a court in Kollam, the 27-year-old model has defended her photo shoot.

"Society doesn't provide an environment for women to breastfeed in public and feel safe while doing it. It's a privilege mothers have, feeding their child, you don't have to be afraid or ashamed," Joseph said in a video posted on Facebook.

But the controversy has divided Indians, with some calling it a publicity gimmick by a model who herself is not married yet.

"Breastfeeding is so sublime that no mother will do for a photoshoot. Our mother has given breastfeeding without any campaign, this is a commercial gimmick in the name of celebrating motherhood," tweeted an Indian.

However, support for the model has come from global organizations like Unicef.

"Exclusive #breastfeeding for the first six months gives babies the best start in life. Congratulations to @Grihalakshmi_ and @Mathrubhumi for supporting breastfeeding," the UN body's Indian office tweeted.