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| KJ Yesudas: India singer criticised for 'sexist' jeans remark | KJ Yesudas: India singer criticised for 'sexist' jeans remark |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Women's groups in the southern Indian state of Kerala have criticised the legendary singer KJ Yesudas for saying women should not wear jeans. | Women's groups in the southern Indian state of Kerala have criticised the legendary singer KJ Yesudas for saying women should not wear jeans. |
| The singer said that wearing jeans was "against Indian culture" and provoked "undesirable" behaviour. | The singer said that wearing jeans was "against Indian culture" and provoked "undesirable" behaviour. |
| He is popular for singing Indian classical and devotional songs and has won several prestigious music awards. | He is popular for singing Indian classical and devotional songs and has won several prestigious music awards. |
| But his comments prompted several groups to lead protest marches in the state capital, Trivandrum. | But his comments prompted several groups to lead protest marches in the state capital, Trivandrum. |
| "Women should not wear jeans and trouble others. You should dress modestly and do not behave like men," the singer told a gathering at the Swati Thirunal College of Music in the state capital, Trivandrum, on Thursday. | |
| "People would be tempted to pay attention to what's beyond it... Don't do it to attract and make others do the undesirable," he said, drawing applause from a section of the male audience. | "People would be tempted to pay attention to what's beyond it... Don't do it to attract and make others do the undesirable," he said, drawing applause from a section of the male audience. |
| "Whatever should be covered, should be covered. We appreciate what's concealed and that's our culture," he added. | "Whatever should be covered, should be covered. We appreciate what's concealed and that's our culture," he added. |
| #Yesudas on Twitter | #Yesudas on Twitter |
| By Friday morning #Yesudas was making an appearance among Indians on Twitter. | By Friday morning #Yesudas was making an appearance among Indians on Twitter. |
| They responded with a mixture of despair, outrage but some expressed their support for his position. | They responded with a mixture of despair, outrage but some expressed their support for his position. |
| Activist Kavita Krishnan suggested he cover his eyes rather than ask women to cover up. Others he suggested he cover his mouth. | Activist Kavita Krishnan suggested he cover his eyes rather than ask women to cover up. Others he suggested he cover his mouth. |
| But there were also some tweets that said he was merely speaking out in defence of Indian traditions. | But there were also some tweets that said he was merely speaking out in defence of Indian traditions. |
| One user, Shyam, tweeted that Yesudas has the right to state his views and was an "elderly person with wisdom". | One user, Shyam, tweeted that Yesudas has the right to state his views and was an "elderly person with wisdom". |
| Women in both the state's ruling Congress party and the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) have condemned the remarks and asked the singer to withdraw them and apologise. | Women in both the state's ruling Congress party and the opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) have condemned the remarks and asked the singer to withdraw them and apologise. |
| The Congress party's Bindu Krishna said the singer's comments were "immature" and "vulgar" while CPI(M) MP TN Seema said they smacked of "perversion" and insulted Kerala's achievements in gender equality. | The Congress party's Bindu Krishna said the singer's comments were "immature" and "vulgar" while CPI(M) MP TN Seema said they smacked of "perversion" and insulted Kerala's achievements in gender equality. |
| "This is really shocking! If this is the attitude of a cultural icon like him, there's some serious trouble with our society," Ms Seema told BBC. | "This is really shocking! If this is the attitude of a cultural icon like him, there's some serious trouble with our society," Ms Seema told BBC. |
| What are your thoughts about singer KJ Yesuda's comments on women wearing jeans? You can email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk to share your views. |