Thane, Maharashtra (The Hawk): Yoga instructor Ramdev made a potentially divisive remark on women's clothing on Friday, drawing criticism in both political and social circles.
Ramdev made the following comment while addressing a free yoga training class in this location: "Women look fantastic in saris, they look great in salwar suits, and in my opinion, they look good even if they don't wear anything." Shrikant Shinde, the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena MP for Thane, the son of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, singer Amruta Fadnavis, the wife of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of the Bharatiya Janata Party, and other notable figures flanked him at the moment.
The 56-year-old Ramdev was speaking at a Yoga Science Camp & Women's Meeting hosted by the Mumbai Mahila Patanjali Yoga Samiti and the Patanjali Yoga Peeth.
He talked with women who had packed saris and yoga outfits for the conclave and went to a Ramdev training camp.
Many women did not have time to change because the meeting began right after the training camp, so they showed up in their yoga suits.
Ramdev noticed this and commented that it wasn't an issue if they didn't have time to change into saris because they could do so after leaving for home. This comment has since been branded "sexist" in some circles.
In order to live a long life, he also exhorted the populace to maintain their joy and smiles.
(Inputs from Agencies)
