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Don't wear skirts, don't go out at night: Culture Minister's advisory to foreign tourists

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 29 August 2016, 8:10 IST

On 28 August, Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma's comment on regulating the kind of clothes women should wear made it clear that not much has changed in people's mindsets, even in the 21st century.

On his visit to Agra, Mahesh Sharma suggested that in order to ensure the safety of women foreigners, they should refrain from wearing skirts and other "skimpy" clothes, reported the Times of India.

"For their own safety, women foreign tourists should not wear short dresses and skirts... Indian culture is different from the western", Sharma was quoted to have said.

Another pointer he had for ensuring the safety of women was that they should avoid going out at night.

He further said that his words of wisdom that are an outright violation of women's rights, should be added to the advisory pamphlet that is handed out to foreign tourists.

To those foreigners visiting Mathura and Vrindavan, he advised foreigners to keep the sensitivity of the Indian culture in mind.

Later retracting his statement, Sharma said ,"We have not given any specific instructions regarding what they should wear or not wear. We are asking them to take precaution while going out at night. We are not trying to change anyone's preference."

First published: 29 August 2016, 8:10 IST