Irani says women not dictated in India, draws dissenting notes

HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Friday found herself in a spot when her remarks that women in the country are not told what to wear, whom to meet and where to go, drew voices of dissent from an audience she was addressing. “In India, I don’t think any woman is dictated what to wear, how to wear, whom to meet, when to meet....I am of the opinion, I don’t think anybody is dictated here, you are not told,” she said while interacting with New York-based journalist Tina Brown at an event in the national Capital.

Many from the gathering vociferously disagreed with the minister’s remarks, Brown drew her attention to it. Putting up a brave front, Irani retorted, “Are you told? I am sorry. I am not. My apologies ladies.” 

Trying to justify her remarks, Irani said she did not come from a celebrated family but an absolutely lower middle class family, which told her to determine her own future.