Ministry Of Morality?

HAT does World Environment Day have to do with women's attire? Slow fashion, maybe—but that doesn't seem to have been on Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya's mind when he made remarks at a tree planting gathering in Indore on this occasion, which have since drawn criticism.

- SHARANYA MANIVANNAN

Vijayvargiya has been quoted as having repeatedly commented on women's sartorial choices, with statements including, "It is said there (abroad) that just as a girl wearing less clothing is beautiful, similarly a leader giving a short speech is also very good. There is such a saying in foreign countries, but I do not follow it." and "I do not like (women) wearing less clothes. Many a time, girls come to take selfies with me. I tell them they should come by wearing good clothes and then get a selfie clicked with me."

The remarks appear to have been well-received at the event, inspiring laughter among the audience.