Home Minister, Dawa Gyaltshen said the ministry did not feel the need to inform the Cabinet, before sending out the circular on Ada Rachu, since it is not a new policy. The Cabinet said they were not informed of home ministry’s circular.
They have asked the ministry to rescind the circular with immediate effect.
Lyonpo said Bhutanese women have worn Ada Rachu since ancient times and some still use it.
“In order to standardise Rachu, similar to men using white kabney, the ministry passed the circular.”
He also said it was to encourage the use of Ada Rachu.
A National Council member, Sangay Khandu, said the government has taken a good decision by rescinding the circular which affected a large group of population.
NC MP Sangay Khandu said the decision for women to wear Ada Rachu had come about abruptly and with no consultation.
“The ministry and agencies do draft rules and implement it. When rules or laws affect a large number of people, what I imagine is, these rules would be as important as laws and the expectation is that it would have been discussed in parliament.”
The circular, which mandates women to use Ada Rachu, created an uproar.
Many took to social media to voice out their displeasure calling it an act of regression.
“Common sense prevails over cultural zealotry. Goodbye to Ada Rachu and the attempt to turn the Bhutanese women into dummies until the next stroke of inspiration hits our cultural zealots,” wrote an editor of Druk Loter, Needrup Zangpo.
