Union culture minister gets into a sticky situation with skirt quip

New Delhi: Union culture minister Mahesh Sharma on Monday found himself in the middle of a controversy for his remarks that foreigners travelling to India should avoid wearing skirts, forcing him to issue a clarification.

Mr Sharma said his comments were “advisory in nature”. Talking to reporters 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).”

Congress: Sharma’s remark 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 country with different cultures, different eating habits and different dressing senses which change on every 100 km. We have a tradition (of saying) Atithi Devobhava (the guest is almost like God). Such a ban is unimaginable. I said this as an advisory when going to religious places.”