Saarah Sharma, in a video shared on Instagram, claimed that she was stopped from facilitating Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya at an event titled ‘Nari Shakti: Viksit Bharat ki Awaaz’. The programme took place at Shri Ram College of Commerce on April 12 and was organised by Mera Yuva Bharat under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
According to Sharma, she had been selected to felicitate the minister but was prevented at the last moment by officials who objected to her “sleeveless” outfit. In the video, she is seen wearing the same sleeveless suit she had on during the event. Describing the experience as “disgusting,” she said the situation became particularly humiliating when she was called out publicly in front of the audience.
She further explained that volunteers had been instructed to wear traditional attire such as suits or sarees, and emphasized that she was not the only participant dressed in sleeveless clothing. Sharma also expressed disappointment that the objection reportedly came from a female official, especially at an event focused on women’s empowerment.
Adding to her concerns, Sharma alleged that after the event, while she and her friends were taking photographs, three male officials approached them and remarked that the country’s lack of progress was due to women spending excessive time clicking pictures. She criticised such attitudes, stating that legislative efforts aimed at empowering women would have little impact unless societal mindsets evolve.
However, the incident has drawn mixed reactions. Some individuals who claimed to be present at the event disputed Sharma’s version of events. One comment on her post suggested that the issue was not related to her outfit but rather a mutual decision, as she had already been scheduled to appear on stage multiple times—for her speech, presenting a motion, and the felicitation. According to this account, another volunteer eventually carried out the felicitation, and Sharma had agreed to step aside.
The commenter also argued that if her attire had truly been an issue, she would not have been allowed to participate in other key segments of the programme.
The incident has since sparked debate online, raising questions about dress codes, professionalism, and the broader discourse on women’s empowerment in public spaces.
