Lingerie in gift bags at Uttar Pradesh Holi event

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh minister for religious endowment, Mr Vijay Misra, has landed in a controversy over the gifts and prizes he distributed at a recent Holi Milan function in his constituency Ghazipur.

The “gifts” distributed to the male guests included lingerie and cosmetics used by women. As the recipients of the gifts opened the packets, they were embarrassed by what came out and hurriedly put the contents back into the packets.

A senior employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “Holi is a time for fun and frolic, but we certainly did not expect the minister to stoop to this level. He should have exercised greater dignity and restraint. He did not even seem embarrassed when the packets were opened.”

The BJP and several women’s organisations have slammed the minister for this “unholy” act.

Mamta Tiwari, who works for women’s welfare, said, “This is almost like outraging a woman’s modesty. How could the minister distribute lingerie in a public function and then laugh over it? If this government has any respect for women, action should be taken against the minister without delay.”

The minister, however, said that he had received the invitation to be the chief guest and was unaware about the items kept inside the gift packets.