While 'fighting' for the Transgender Bill, Union Minister Ramdas Athwale said something that is raising questions as to whose side he is on.

Speaking at an event recently, Athwale 'advised' transgenders to not wear sarees.

What's wrong with that, you ask? Here's what he said:

"They are not men or women. Hence, they shouldn't wear sarees," an ANI report quotes Athwale.

He went on to explain:

"Some kinnar (transgenders) should wear men's clothing as well. I am not forcing them, I just conveyed my feeling that all of them should not wear sarees... But if they want to wear sarees, they have the freedom. There is no problem," quotes a PTI report.

Ironically, Athwale made these comments while speaking at workshop on Developing Modules for Sensitising Transgender People and Stakeholders, organised at the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD and PR).

TRANSGENDER BILL

Athawale, at the event, also confirmed that the Centre would make efforts to pass the Transgender Bill soon. The Bill aims to empower the community by providing them a separate identity.

Sometime around the saree comment, Athawale said that since men and women have theirs', transgenders should have their rights too.

"A bill had also come in 2016. It has been sent to the standing committee. Very soon, the government of India will pass that bill to give you your rights," said the minister.

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, which seeks to define transgenders and prohibit discrimination against them, was introduced in the Lok Sabha last year.

Hope the bill clarifies to one and all that any human being, as long as it does not harm or kill someone, can wear anything they please.

ATHAWALE AND THE VANDE MATARAM CONTROVERSY

Ramdas Athawale offended one too many when he said that there was nothing wrong if one didn't recite the national song Vande Mataram.

"Everybody should recite Vande Mataram, but if it is not recited what will go wrong?" he asked, while addressing the Maharashtra Gramin Patrakar Sanghs 11th anniversary at Kalyan near here yesterday.

"If one does not recite Vande Mataram nothing is wrong in that," is what he said.

The Madras high court recently made singing Vande Mataram compulsory in all government schools, colleges and universities in Tamil Nadu at least once a week.

Thoughts, anybody?

For more on Ramdas Athwale...

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Govt to make efforts to pass Transgender Bill soon: Athawale

Nothing wrong if one doesnt recite Vande Mataram: Athawale