Panaji:
Goa Minister Sudin Dhavalikar today beat a retreat after being pilloried for his comments calling for a ban on bikinis in beaches and drinking in pubs.
"I withdraw the statement if it has hurt anybody. I was misunderstood. I had no intention of hurting women - I was only concerned about their safety," the 57-year-old told NDTV, hours after being asked for an explanation by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.
Sources say Mr Parrikar called the minister last night to ask why he made those comments.
Mr Dhavalikar, a member of BJP ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, has provoked sharp criticism for a series of statements since Monday.
Yesterday, he told NDTV, "For their own protection on public beaches, women should not wear bikinis. I am not against wearing bikinis in private places."
He also said, "Pub culture is not Indian culture and we don't want Western culture. Young people go drinking and it often leads to law and order problems. Our sisters and daughters are getting spoilt. Goa was a city of temples and churches. We don't want pub-tourism."
A day before that, he suggested that "young girls going to pubs in short dresses is against our culture."
Retracting those comments today, he said he had "no problem with men or women drinking but it must be in control."
The minister had made these remarks while supporting controversial activist Pramod Muthalik, who has talked about setting up a unit of his outfit, Sri Ram Sene, in Goa to "stop the culture of drugs, sex and nudity."
The Sri Ram Sene is best known for its assault on women at a pub in Mangalore in 2009. Women were dragged by their hair, slapped and manhandled by Sri Ram Sene activists, who accused them of "loose morals".
In March, the Goa Chief Minister was among the first to object when his BJP admitted Mr Muthalik into the party. Amid a deluge of criticism, the BJP disowned Mr Muthalik five hours after inducting him.
Sources say Mr Parrikar was upset that one of his ministers has endorsed Mr Muthalik's views so emphatically.