An Indian minister who said foreign women visiting the country should not wear skirts hastily walked back his controversial comments Monday, saying he was only referring to “religious places” and said what he did out of “concern.”
“I am a father of two daughters, I would never tell women what they should wear or not,” said Mahesh Sharma, according to local broadcaster NDTV. “Such a ban is unimaginable, but it is not a crime to be cautious.”
Quiz: Can You Guess These Back to School Prices?
Sharma, a member of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Minister of State for Culture and Tourism, had said a day earlier that women traveling to India should not wear skirts and avoid going out alone at night. His comments caused a storm and considerable ridicule on Twitter.
This is not the first time the politician has made questionable comments, saying last year that it was “not acceptable in India” for girls to go out at night.
[NDTV]
- Donald Trump Was Just Indicted. Here's What to Know About the Charges and the Case
- What Could Happen Next for Donald Trump
- Trump's Indictment Drama Showcased His Rivals' Weakness
- Inside Ukraine's Push to Try Putin For War Crimes
- Bad Bunny's Next Move
- Elon Musk Signs Open Letter Urging AI Labs to Pump the Brakes
- Eliezer Yudkowsky: Pausing AI Developments Isn't Enough. We Need to Shut it All Down
- 'How Is This Still Happening?' A Survivor Questions America's Gun Violence Problem
- Cheryl Strayed Will Always Be Here for You
- Who Should Be on the 2023 TIME100? Vote Now
