BJP’s Mahesh Sharma asks tourists not to wear skirts and short dresses.

BJP Union minister Mahesh Sharma said women tourists should not wear skirts or any short dresses on their visit to India for safety reasons in 2016

BJP Union minister Mahesh Sharma said women tourists should not wear skirts or any short dresses on their visit to India for safety reasons in 2016Union tourism and culture minister Mahesh Sharma, on Aug. 28, 2016, had stirred up a controversy after he said women tourists should refrain from wearing short dresses and go out alone at night in small towns.

During a press conference in Agra, Sharma spoke about providing welcome kits to tourists at airports that will contain the lists of dos and don'ts as part of their visit to the country. The card asked women not to wear skirts in the small towns for their safety. The card also suggested tourists to click pictures of the vehicle’s number plate while traveling in it and send it to their friends so that the number is stored and circulated in case of emergencies.

Sharma also talked about the helpline number, 1363, that was introduced to help foreign tourists. Sharma later clarified his remarks by saying that he was only referring to religious places to maintain the holy place's sanctity. Refuting the charges, he said that India is known for its diverse culture. Imposing such a ban was unimaginable and added that he was not wrong in assuring tourists' safety.