A Goa Minister on Tuesday came in for flak after he called for a ban to pub culture, saying girls should not go out in short dresses.
On Monday, Goa Minister for Public Works Ramkrishna Dhavlikar had said: “Young girls going to pubs in scantily clad does not fit in our culture. What will happen to our Goan culture if we allow this? It should be stopped.” Mr. Dhavlikar belongs to the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, a regional outfit and alliance partner of the BJP in the State.
Coming amid the controversy generated by Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik’s plans to set up a unit of his right-wing outfit in the State in September, Mr. Dhavlikar’s remarks have invited further condemnation, including from the Congress. He had earlier sought to justify Mr. Muthalik’s statements on Indian culture, holding that he had a right to speak out for his own religion.
In protest against the remarks against girls’ attire, the Congress sent a pink mini-skirt to Mr. Dhavlikar, said party organising Secretary and Goa Pradesh Congress committee spokerperson Durgadas Kamat on Tuesday.
Another Congress spokesperson, Pratima Coutinho, lashed out at Mr. Dhavlikar for supporting the Sri Ram Sene and questioned his prescription of a dress code for women in Goa. She said he should not judge Goan women by what they wear.
Mr. Dhavlikar’s political detractors here say he is known also to patronise the Sanatan Sanstha, another right-wing Hindu outfit, where his wife is an active “ sadhak ”.
The Sanatan Sanstha came under a cloud a couple of years ago after some of its members were questioned in a bomb blast in Margao on the eve of Diwali. Later, however, a CBI Court had let them off due lack of evidence.
In 2009, Sri Ram Sene activists had attacked girls and men in a pub in Mangalore for “violating traditional Indian values”.
Published - July 02, 2014 01:55 am IST
