'I'm concerned,' clarifies Mahesh Sharma on women tourists shouldn't wear skirts remark

Union Minister Mahesh Sharma found himself in the eye of storm after saying that tourists are advised not to wear skirts. Sharma, who made the comment on Sunday during a press conference in Agra, later clarified it saying he meant in the context of temples. 

"...If I ask women tourists to be a bit careful while moving around at night then what is wrong in it? I am simply concerned," Sharma said on Monday.

"...Paryatako ko, jab wo airport par aate hain, unko ek welcome kit di jaa rahi hai. Ek card hai usme, usme do's and don'ts, kya karein aur kya na karein. Jaise chhoti chhoti batein hain, humne unhe bataya ke aap chhoti jagah par raat-waat ke time akele na niklein, skirts na pahnein... Doosra humne unhe bataya ki aap jis gaadi mein baithe, us gaadi ki number plate ka photo le lein aur apne... kisi dost ko forward kar dein," he said on Sunday. (We are providing a welcome kit to tourists when they land at the airport. The kit includes an information card about do's and don'ts like do not venture out alone at night in small towns, do not wear skirts; take a picture of the registration number of the vehicle you use and send it to a friend.)

The minister of state for culture and tourism also clarified that the dress code that was suggested was in context to religious places as India is a "cultural country." He, however, doesn't mention how women should dress when visiting mosques. He had earlier courted controversy when he said that former President APJ Abdul Kalam was a nationalist despite being a Muslim. 

We have a different dress code for temples. Kindly keep that in mind while dressing up," he had said. "We are not telling them what to wear and what not to wear. We are only saying that when they go out at night, they should be careful. We have no right to try and change anyone's clothes or way of thinking," he had said.

However, the minister received criticism for his remarks on Twitter.

His advisory targeted more than 80 lakh tourists. Between January and December 2015, 80.16 lakh tourists visited India and the Foreign Exchange Earnings (FEEs) in calendar year 2015 were at $19.67 billion, according to a statement issued by the Union Tourism Ministry on Jan. 8, 2016. Despite the billions of dollars spent by tourists in India, the minister made remarks that activists have said put the blame of sexual violence on women instead of improving women's safety measures.