Union minister Mahesh Sharma asks foreign tourists to ditch skirts, short dresses

Union tourism minister Mahesh Sharma on Sunday courted a controversy after he suggested foreign women tourists to ditch skirts and short dresses in India.

He mentioned a welcome card is being provided to tourists visiting India with Dos and Don’ts which advise women not to roam alone at night and not to wear skirts.

He was addressing a press conference in Agra where he also announced a helpline number 1363 to help foreign tourists.

“When a foreign tourist reaches the airport, he or she is given a welcome kit wherein dos and don’ts are mentioned for them during their stay in India,” Mahesh Sharma said in a press conference.

“These dos and don’ts include suggestions that if they are in small cities, they should not roam alone at night nor wear dresses like skirts,” he added.

He also mentioned that this is not a compulsion but since Indian culture is different from western culture, foreign tourists should follow it.