A day after his comments asking foreign tourists not to wear skirts and dresses in India created a controversy, minister Mahesh Sharma says his remarks are only an advisory for ‘religious places’
Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma
New Delhi: Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma yesterday found himself in the middle of yet another controversy for his remarks that foreigners travelling to India should avoid wearing skirts, forcing him to issue a clarification.
Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma Pic/AFP
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Sharma said his comments were “advisory in nature” and were meant for those tourists who were visiting religious places. On Sunday in Agra, he had said, “For their own safety, women foreign tourists should not wear short dresses and skirts...Indian culture is different from the western (culture).” Sharma’s comments came on Sunday when he was responding to questions on the government’s steps for tourist safety.
‘Most uncultured’
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 that the comments reveal a very “horrible and pathetic mindset.”
Clarifying his remarks, Sharma said, “It is a country with different cultures, different eating habits and different dressing senses which change with every 100 km. We have a tradition (of saying) Atithi Devo Bhava. Such a ban is unimaginable. I said this as an advisory when going to religious places. Like when we go to a gurudwara, we cover our heads, when we go to a temple, we remove our shoes,” Sharma said.
“I am a father of (two) daughters. I have not said what one person should wear or not wear. Neither it is desired nor I am authorised to say so. I have only said this as an advice when they visit to religious place,” he added.
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