Minister asks foreign tourists to shun skirts, stirs controversy

Agra, Aug 29: Union Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma on Sunday stirred a controversy after he suggested women foreign tourists not to wear skirts. He said women tourists should also refrain from going out alone at night.

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

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

Sharma's comments incited criticism on social media, where some also asked him if it will curb molestations and rape.

Women who visit as tourists to India end up becoming victims of rape due to Indian spiteful culture.#BarbaricIndia#SpitefulIndianCulture

— fizza_wahab (@fizzaCalling1) August 25, 2016

Foreigners must shun skirts says @dr_maheshsharma . Should @narendramodiask his minister 2 shut up?

— ashok upadhyay (@ashoupadhyay) August 29, 2016

If #India wants (and it can get) 100 million tourists a year one day, it won't happen through a tourism minister who doesn't get #tourism.

— HindolSengupta (@HindolSengupta) August 29, 2016