Skirt advisory embarrassing: AAP minister

Delhi tourism minister Kapil Mishra said Union culture minister Mahesh Sharma’s “no skirt” advice to foreign tourists is bringing embarrassment to India.

“Such an advisory not only tarnishes the image of India, but also adversely affects tourism,” Mr Mishra said, adding that Mr Sharma’s words discredit India’s image as a tourist destination.

The tourism minister said such an “overarching” advisory to tourists was uncalled for. “If some religious places have their own rules and restrictions, foreign tourists follow them. So why is there an overarching advisory for the entire country ,” Mr Mishra said.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal termed Mr Sharma’s remarks as regressive. “Women had greater freedom to wear clothes of their choice in Vedic times than they have in Modi times,” Kejriwal said on Twitter.

The culture minister had stoked controversy by suggesting women tourists to not wear skirts in India. “For their own safety, women foreign tourists should not wear short dresses and skirts. Indian culture is different from the western (culture),” he had told reporters in Agra on Sunday.

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal criticised Mr Sharma for drawing parallels between rape and the attire of a woman.

“Rape of 2-year-old is also due to wearing skirts Improve law and order, please stop telling women what to wear or not wear,” she said on Twitter.

“Can’t believe politicians continue to equate rape with wearing skirt. So easy to shirk responsibility and blame a women’s attire for rape,” she said in another tweet.

Ms Maliwal suggested the Centre to create a high-level committee on women safety. She said the committee should meet once a week to take some “strong decisions” regarding safety of women in the capital.