Mahesh Sharma Advised Women Tourists To Not Wear Skirts And Faced Bitter Backlash

When foreign tourists land in India, every one of them is given a travel advisory. In this pamphlet, all the “dos and don’ts” are mentioned to make their travel and stay in India as comfortable and hassle-free as possible.

Mahesh Sharma, our Culture Minister was in Agra was talking about this travel advisory and said that women should not wear skirts or go alone at night as it would be unsafe for them.

“…Paryatako ko, jab wo airport par aate hain, unko ek welcome kit di jaa rahi hai. Ek card hai usme, usme do’s and don’ts, kya karein aur kya na karein. Jaise chhoti chhoti batein hain, humne unhe bataya ke aap chhoti jagah par raat-waat ke time akele na niklein, skirts na pahnein… Doosra humne unhe bataya ki aap jis gaadi mein baithe, us gaadi ki number plate ka photo le lein aur apne… kisi dost ko forward kar dein…”

 

 

He also added that every tourist should click a photo of the number plate of the taxi or rickshaw they are getting into and send it to their respective friends.

He also said that foreigners should keep in mind the local traditions and culture while visiting the holy places of Vrindavan and Mathura.

Twitter did not take Mahesh Sharma’s statement of “Women should not wear short skirts” lightly and there was quite a backlash towards him

1.

Seeing Vijay Goel getting all the attention, Mahesh Sharma had to step in as well with his idiocy! https://t.co/2yjkgiRW4i

— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) August 28, 2016

 

2.

Maybe @dr_maheshsharma will soon 'advise' women not to step out of their homes! https://t.co/2xBPwjYKKz

— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) August 29, 2016

 

3.

Tourists, dont wear skirts: advice by Minister Mahesh Sharma a Physician, Wife-Gynaecologist, Son-Daughter-Medical professionals! @BBCHindi

— Nitin Srivastava (@TweetNitinS) August 29, 2016

 

4.

No skirts, roaming alone for safety: Culture Min #MaheshSharma to women tourists
Why not Buy a Cow and roam around with it for more safety?

— Samar (@Samar_Anarya) August 29, 2016

 

5.

You are perfectly fine with nude monks in Vidhan Dabha but foreign women travellers in skirts is a cause of concern #MaheshSharma #Misogyny

— Riya Mukherjee ریا مکھرجی (@riyalovezu) August 29, 2016

 

6.

@dr_maheshsharma Rather than asking foreign women not to wear skirts, pls ask men to behave with foreigners or face strict action..

— Alok Shinde (@AlokSShinde) August 29, 2016

 

7.

Mahesh Sharma doesn't have a problem with knickers-specially if they are khaki in colour.But hates skirts.
Girls,'Knickers' is the way out.

— Arfa Khanum Sherwani (@khanumarfa) August 29, 2016

 

8.

Women had greater freedom to wear clothes of their choice in Vedic times than they have in Modi times

https://t.co/8nKdRAhXIC

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 29, 2016

But the fact remains that Mahesh Sharma was actually quoting the advisory, and not recalling the law of the land.

Also if I ask women tourists to be a bit careful while moving around at night then what is wrong in it? I am simply concerned: Mahesh Sharma

— ANI (@ANI_news) August 29, 2016

 

He further clarified by saying that the remark was just an advice and not a suggestion for women to change the way they dress.

“Why should we indulge in suggesting a dress code for visitors?”

Was the backlash warranted?

You decide.

Cover Image Source

News Source – Hindustan Times, Indian Express