Sushma Swaraj’s ‘Iran attire’ invites criticism

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s choice of attire when she met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Sunday invited severe criticism on social media.

Twitter users posted scathing comments on her choice of dress - a pink sari with matching shawl that covered her from head to toe.

Some users compared Swaraj’s look with other women who have met Rouhani in the past. A combination picture tweeted by @padhalikha showing woman ministers of other countries meeting Rouhani went viral.

Another Twitter user @AAPkSaath posted picture of CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour interviewing Rouhani without a scarf.

Many questioned whether Swaraj was compelled to wear such a dress. “Mam i have never seen you covering head and self in such a fashion ever. What was compulsion?” @pbengani tweeted.

However others defended Swaraj saying these dress codes are inevitable during bilateral meets.

@Spexmp tweeted “There are some decorum maintain even in small offices its a bilateral relation lots of occasion they do.”

“Nothing wrong in respecting local culture. Many foreign leaders wear saree say Namaste” @smedia4 tweeted.