At a women’s empowerment event at Delhi University on 12 April, a student stopped from sharing the stage with Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Nari Shakti Event because she wore a sleeveless outfit. Mera Yuva Bharat (MY Bharat), part of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, organized a Women Youth Parliament at Shri Ram College of Commerce. The theme was “Nari Shakti: Viksit Bharat ki Awaaz – Strengthening Inclusive Democracy.”
Nari Shakti Event: DU Student stopped to felicitate Union Minister over clothing
19 year-old Saarah Sharma from Daulat Ram College participated and represented the Department of Women and Child Development in the Mock Youth Parliament. However, just before she was about to go on stage to honor the minister, an official stopped her and replaced her with another student because of her sleeveless kurti.
Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports and Labour and Employment, was the chief guest at the event. More than 500 women attended, including 37 young representatives from Delhi and Uttarakhand, who took part in a structured Mock Youth Parliament, representing different ministries.
Is attire a serious problem?
“They asked us to wear Indian attire, and I dressed in a white suit with a blue dupatta, but the official considered it inappropriate,” she said. During the session, participants shared their views on the Nari Shakti Event. They emphasized the importance of women’s leadership and inclusive governance. Sharma questioned how her attire became an issue at an event focused entirely on women.
“It was very absurd for me to be questioned about my dressing even after following the dress code. Nowhere it mentioned that sleeveless outfits not allowed,” she said. “Don’t MPs wear sarees with sleeveless blouses in Parliament?” she added.
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