Union minister fuels row with skirt comment, clarifies

New Delhi, August 29

Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma today found himself in the middle of yet another controversy for his remarks that foreigners visiting India should avoid wearing skirts, forcing him to issue a clarification.

He said his comments were “advisory in nature” and were meant for tourists visiting religious places.

Talking to reporters yesterday in Agra, he said, “For their own safety, women foreign tourists should not wear short dresses and skirts... Indian culture is different from western (culture).”

The remarks evoked a sharp reactions with Congress leader Manish Tiwari terming them as “most uncultured remarks” and Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal saying the comments reveal a very “horrible and pathetic mindset”.

Tiwari said, “If Mahesh Sharma has his way, he will put every women in burqa. The Culture Minister of India at times comes out with most uncultured remarks. Diversity of culture is something the culture ministry should recognise.”

“It (the remark) reveals a very horrible and pathetic mindset. Mindset that completely runs in our society. Fact is that two-year-olds are getting raped... They are also wearing shorts, so because of that they are getting raped. It’s a completely sad and medieval kind of thought. At least, it is not expected from a central minister. How could he speak like that? It is completely bizarre,” Maliwal said.

Clarifying his remarks, Sharma said, “It is country with different cultures... We have a tradition (of saying) ‘atithi devobhava’ (guest is like God). Such a ban is unimaginable. I said this as an advisory while visiting religious places. Like when we go to gurdwara, we cover our heads, when we go to temple, we remove our shoes,” he said. — PTI