Telangana Home minister Mahmood Ali tells women to avoid skimpy clothes, slammed
Hyderabad: Home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali on Saturday courted controversy by claiming that “women wearing skimpy clothes create trouble” while addressing a media query on some Muslim students being asked to remove their burqas at an examination centre.
Referring to the incident at IS Sadan of Santoshnagar of the Old City, Mahmood Ali said:
“If skimpy, European-style clothes are worn, it can result in situation going out of hand. There are Islamic dresses or what our Hindu sisters wear, who wrap the pallu over their heads. Women, especially when wearing skimpy clothes, can create problems. If fully clothed, such situation can be averted.”
The minister’s comments sparked a public and political backlash, with all sections of society taking aim at the law and order incharge of the state.
A video of the comments went viral on social media platforms and reactions were swift to come in. People questioned Mahmood Ali’s wisdom in declaring ‘the right kind of clothes for women to wear’, while BJP and Congress leaders jumped on the bandwagon.
BJP state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar, taking to Twitter, posted: “Now Telangana government wants to decide on what women wear? While the Home Minister lectures on what women should wear, why was his mouth covered when there were rapes and murders going on (sic)?”
The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, condemning the minister's remarks, posted: “What kind of a government is the BRS running… these remarks are sexist and deserve to be condemned by the so-called modern prince @KTRTRS (sic) who feels his modern outlook is attracting the world’s attention.”
Well-known women’s rights activist Brinda Adige poured scorn on Mahmood Ali in a tweet, posting: “This fellow is an elected rep. Citizens r not paying for him to spew misogyny, chauvinism…his job is not to police women’s clothing. Tell him to silence his retrograde mindset. (sic)”
She also said ministers should be educated to respect women.
State BJP spokesperson Rani Rudrama said Mahmood Ali must immediately apologise to the women of Telangana for his “shameful comments and saying only if women wear a hijab will people be peaceful”, terming it an outright insult to women. “The home minister never utters a word on rapes of six-month babies to 60-year-old women in the state, but is ready to talk about dress codes for women.”
However, this is not the first time that Mahmood Ali has been in the spotlight for controversial comments.
In 2019, he landed in hot soup for saying that 27-year-old city-based veterinary surgeon Disha, who was raped and murdered, should have called the police instead of her sister as it could have saved her life.
Back on Twitter, a user with the handle Oozypalooza pointed out that “everyone around him including policeman is wearing ‘European’ dress.”
Aruna, an employee with a private firm, said: “Women living in Hyderabad city are aware of what they want to wear. Ministers must concentrate on their politics and enacting laws to protect women. There is no need to tell women what to wear and declare dress codes.”
Vox pop
“I condemn home minister Mahmood Ali's remarks on women’s dress code. The Constitution has given rights to women to wear whatever they wish in a decent manner”
--Mallu Lakshmi, state general secretary, All India Democratic Women's Association
“The home minister, who is supposed to take measures to maintain law and order, indulged in violating the law by making objectionable remarks. The minister has no right to pass orders on dress code. He must tender an apology”
--B.N. Ratna, social activist
“The home minister must withdraw his remarks against women on the dress code. Every woman has the right to wear a dress as per their wish. Mahmood Ali has no right to direct women”
--Sandhya, a social activist
