Union minister of state for culture and tourism Mahesh Sharma, who landed the government in yet another controversy with his remarks on Sunday that foreigners travelling in India should avoid wearing
Union minister of state for culture and tourism Mahesh Sharma, who landed the government in yet another controversy with his remarks on Sunday that foreigners travelling in India should avoid wearing skirts, was forced to issue a clarification later saying that his comments were only “advisory in nature” and meant only for those visiting religious places.
Speaking to reporters in Agra Sunday, Mr Sharma 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 reaction, with Congress leader Manish Tewari calling them “most uncultured” and Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal saying that they revealed a “horrible and pathetic mindset”.
Mr Sharma clarified later: “It is a country with different cultures, different eating habits and different dressing senses... that change every 100 km. We have a tradition (of saying) ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (The guest is almost like God). A ban is unimaginable. I said this as an advisory when going to religious places. When we go to a gurdwara, we cover our heads, when we go to a temple, we remove our shoes.”
He added: “I’m a father of (two) daughters. I haven’t said what a person should wear or not wear. I’m not authorised to say so... I only said this as advice (for) visiting religious places.”
