Naresh Agarwal calls for discussion on western culture

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Agarwal on Saturday downplayed the ongoing controversy over his remark that girls should pay special attention to their attire in view of the rising cases of crimes against the feminine gender, saying the nation should ponder whether we are still ready to accept western culture or not.

"I just said that laws cannot stop everything, even society will have to come forward. Despite the laws in the country, why aren't cases of murder, loot and rape stopping in the country?" Agarwal asked media here, while justifying his statement.

"The films are showing such scenes which a father and a son cannot watch together. The country should think whether we are ready to accept western culture or not. We should also discuss the drawbacks of western culture," he added.

Reacting to Agarwal's comment, Congress leader Krishna Tirath said every individual has his or her opinion.

"Dressing in whatever costume one wishes is one's freedom and there should be no restrictions on it," she told media outside Parliament here.

Shrimani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur described Agarwal's views as illogical.

"But I don't want to make any comment on one's thinking because what one says reflects his mentality," she added.