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]
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0
- How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker
- The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Rishi Iyengar at rishi.iyengar@timeasia.com