Didn t seek ban on skirts by foreign tourists minister

Talking to media Sharma said, “For their safety, women foreign tourists should not wear short dresses and skirts”. Sharma, who was in Agra city in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state on Sunday (28 August), was responding to questions on the safety of tourists in the country.

On being asked by reporters if he was suggesting a dress code for visiting women, the minister said India was a “cultural country” and “we have a different dress code for temples”. While movies, television and advertising are increasingly divergent from traditional culture – and as women become more visible and more active members of Indian society – the problem has worsened, Ghosh said.

His remarks have sparked controversy in India, where several high-profile gang-rapes and attacks on women in recent years have focused global attention on the problem within the country.

“These dos and don’ts include suggestions that if they are in small cities, they should not roam alone at night nor wear dresses like skirts”, he said.

Sharma, who also holds Culture portfolio in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet had caused huge outcry by making yet another insensitive comments on Dadri lynching, which had seen the death of an innocent Muslim, Mohammad Akhlaq in his constituency Noida. “It is also a shameless admission of failure to provide security to foreign [female] tourists”, tweeted Raghunana Rao, while another user said that India needed to “ban such conservative ministers, not skirts”.

Most temples, sanctums or other holy shrines in India have strict advisories and tourists are expected to abide by those while paying a visit.

The prevalence of rape cases in India has gained worldwide attention. They have a medieval and anti-women mindset and, they have sent out a signal to the world that women tourists should come to India at their own peril.

Sharma clarified his remarks on Monday, reportedly saying, “I am a father of two daughters”.

He said, “Our culture is Atithi Devobhava [a guest is like god]”.

Sharma, from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, has been ridiculed for his controversial comments in the past. If they don’t sit in cafés or parks alone or wear tank tops or miniskirts, neither should you.