Swaroopanand slams Sushma Swaraj for outfits she wore in Iran

Shankaracharya of Dwarka Peeth Swaroopanand Saraswati on Tuesday waded into yet another controversy with comments that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's choice of clothes during her Iran visit delivered a "blow" to India's prestige.

Swaroopanand said Swaraj chose to wear outfits that catered to Iranian sensibilities but neglected India's tradition.

"Swaraj wore outfits in Iran which followed the Iranian tradition and went against our own traditions. She thus delivered a blow to India's prestige abroad," he said. He compared Swaraj with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who always wore clothes that reflected her "Indianness" during foreign visits.

"Unlike her, Indira Gandhi on her foreign visits took great care to ensure that her Indianness reflects in her clothes and conduct," the Shankaracharya said.

Known to court controversies, Swami had recently said entry of women into the Shani Shingnapur temple in Maharashtra would lead to increase in crimes like rape against them.