On being asked for safety tips for tourists in Agra, where Taj Mahal is a big draw, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma had a rather bizarre reply. Don't wear skirts -- this was his ‘straightforward’ advice
On being asked for safety tips for tourists in Agra, where Taj Mahal is a big draw, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma had a rather bizarre reply. Don't wear skirts -- this was his ‘straightforward’ advice for tourists.
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Mahesh Sharma. Pic/Twitter
When tourists arrive at Indian airports, they are given a welcome kit, which has dos and don'ts. Adding to this, Sharma was quoted as saying, “The welcome kit has instructions, which include that if they are in small cities, they should not roam around alone at night or wear skirts. Also, they should take a picture of the car they are travelling in and send it to their friend.”
Terming India as a cultural country, Sharma also said that there is a different dress code for temples. Sharma, however, added that he was not advising people what to wear, but only wanted them to be careful.
Here's how Twitterati reacted to the development: While most posted comments in opposition, some supported the minister too
@alokpi Patriarchs like @dr_maheshsharma care a lot about 'pride'. Hurt them right where it hurts - SHAME THEM!
— Aditya Naik (@adi7yanaik) August 29, 2016
No skirts, roaming alone for safety: Culture Min #MaheshSharma to women tourists
— Samar (@Samar_Anarya) August 29, 2016
Why not Buy a Cow and roam around with it for more safety?
They will get #UttarPradesh rid of goondaism? #MaheshSharma ask men to mind their business instd of dictating women wat to wear and wat not
— Nikunj Sharma (@IamNikunjj) August 29, 2016
What's wrong in what Mahesh Sharma said? Isn't it a problem in small towns? Unjust and wrong, but a reality nevertheless, no?
— Monsieur_Inde (@Tweeter_wapsi) August 29, 2016
Though de facto"brand ambassador"of whole India,PM enrols as such4 Incredible India,&minister #MaheshSharma makes foreign tourists fearful?
— Uma Kant Singh (@umakantsingh_in) August 29, 2016
#maheshsharma even if a female tourists was wearing an Indian outfit they will be treated differently because of the colour of their skin.
— CineMaKi (@CineMaKii) August 29, 2016
@suhelseth @vishakhatalreja On a lighter note I think the problem is in his name cause Skirt mein ladki ko dekh Mahesh Sharma jaata hai
— Sindhi (@Mash_Tweetwani) August 29, 2016
So, is #MaheshSharma the pumpkin of the day or is it another hit job by MSM? Credibility of MSM so low that one ought to double check.
— Optimist (@DesiOptimystic) August 29, 2016
And what #MaheshSharma meant is:
— लाà¤ÂÂÂÂu00c2u009f साहà¥ÂÂÂÂu00c2u0087ब !!! (@noupdates) August 29, 2016
1) Don't be in solitude. Be a social person.
2) DON't Wear as shown: pic.twitter.com/RAduV1fxyR
Why do we even have a culture minister? Are we the Taliban? Culture is fluid and should change with times. #MaheshSharma is an idiot waise
— Chokku (@chokelingam) August 29, 2016
#MaheshSharma This minister is a joke and a terrible embarrassed to this country. Sack him, period!!
— amit manuviraj (@amitathome) August 29, 2016
I m not a bhakt, but wat #MaheshSharma said was absolutely correct. Foreign tourists surely need to know dat India is full of skirt-chasers.
— Ganeshan (@ganeshan_iyer) August 29, 2016
#maheshsharma is a disgrace in the name of govt, he proves you can't believe a doctor blindly, they can be duffers too
— Jagadiswar Mohapatra (@beingJagadiswar) August 29, 2016
Get rid of likes of @dr_maheshsharma if you really want your govt to succeed @narendramodi #ForeignersSkirtDiktat
— Bhuwan Bhaskar (@bhuwanbhaskar) August 29, 2016
#MaheshSharma 's statement is right. In states like UP, Bihar, Rajasthan there is absolutely no law n order.
— Bhavatarini (@Sonali1109) August 29, 2016
Anarchy reigns supreme.
#maheshsharma Fully agree wth him on need for foreigners to cover tselves adequately at holy places. Many temples in India r following it.
— Parag hede (@HedeParag) August 29, 2016
Union Minister #MaheshSharma 's comments not only related to foreign women tourists, it demeans Indian women through "bracketing" them!
— Uma Kant Singh (@umakantsingh_in) August 29, 2016
India is unsafe and corrupt. Indian police are rude. No way would foreigners visit India even if someone paid them to.#MaheshSharma
— Gd Here (@Gd_Here) August 29, 2016
To dictate what women should wear is the lowest form of moral degradation. There is no place for @dr_maheshsharma in the union ministry.
— Shashwat Vats (@ImShashwat28) August 29, 2016
boo to ministers Anil vij and mahesh Sharma for their actions and comments, highly deplorable
— Robinson J (@robinjindia) August 29, 2016
Hey #MaheshSharma
— Seema Singh (@seemasingh1971) August 29, 2016
I will Go to Taj in a MiNI skirt .. or hot pants if you have any Gutts
Arrest me ??
Probably India's most UNCULTURED Minister #MaheshSharma
— Anil Acharya (@aa3132) August 29, 2016