Night out for girls not part of Indian culture, says Modi's Minister

New Delhi, Sept 18: Union Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma triggered yet another controversy on Saturday by saying that night out for girls is not a part of Indian culture.

"Girls wanting a night out may be all right elsewhere but it is not part of Indian culture," Sharma told a private TV channel as per a TOI report.

However, as per an ANI report, Sharma on Saturday blamed the media for misquoting him about girls going out late at night, asserting that only a part of his statement was shown on television.

"This is true that I respect India's culture, but that does not mean that I differentiate between a son and a daughter. I have a daughter and a son, and I have never said that my daughter should not go out late in the evening. My daughter is a doctor and she often comes home late at night from work," Sharma told ANI.

"Even PM Modi had earlier said that women are even hanging out late at night in Gujarat and it's absolutely safe. Women from our country are going to space, then, how can I say that they are not equal. I was misquoted by the media and only a part of the statement was shown on television," Sharma added.

Mahesh Sharma has earlier triggered a row by saying that late president APJ Abdul Kalam was a great nationalist "despite" being a Muslim.

Sharma's comment has come against the backdrop of row surrounding resignation of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML) Director Mahesh Rangarajan, which the Congress has alleged that was the result of "unbearable pressure" mounted by the government.

The Union minister has also recently called for freeing the country of "cultural pollution" and teaching Mahabharata and Ramayana to students.

"We have renamed Aurangzeb Road after a person, who despite being a Muslim, is a great nationalist....," the Minister told a news channel.

OneIndia News