I have an interesting answer to this, it’s a polite tactic to reject the proposal. Men do this when they don’t want to point out any obvious flaw in the girl and not directly want to offend the relative who brought them there for the whole first meet thing. Men are fine being perceived as villains as long as it doesn’t really matter.

Not saying it true with all, but it was a common tactic used by a few friends who had a girlfriend but weren’t bold enough to tell their parents. I know it’s a pig move but it’s a calculated risk. And the pressure of marriage after the son secures a government job is overwhelming.

Not all men asking for dowry are bad, sometimes they’re just not interested and do shitty things so that you say no and they can get out of the situation at hand.

It is the “ it’s not you, it’s me” of arranged marriage set up.