Controversy over Uttarakhand CM's "ripped jeans" remark

Mr Rawat claimed that women who wear ripped jeans, set a "bad example" for children

Newly appointed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat is amid a controversy due to his recent comments on women who wear "ripped jeans" and the kind of example they set for their children and the society. The comments were made by Mr Rawat while speaking at a workshop organised by the Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Dehradun on Tuesday.

Mr Rawat claimed that women who wear ripped jeans, set a "bad example" for children. The chief minister said that he had met a woman on a flight who was travelling with two children and ran a non-governmental organisation. Referring to the incident he said that her knees were bare and she "moves around in the society" with her kids. "What values will she give [to the children]?” he asked. 

“If this kind of woman goes out in the society to meet people and solve their problems, what kind of message are we giving out to society, to our kids? It all starts at home. What we do, our kids follow. A child who is taught the right culture at home, no matter how modern he becomes, will never fail in life,” Mr Rawat said. 

Mr Rawat also had a piece of advice for children and said that he did not like "bare knees" being showcased by them. He added that the West has been following India's yoga and covering their bodies while "we run towards nudity." The comments have been criticized by the opposition and women activists.

Congress leader Sanjay Jha reacted to the remarks made by the CM by tweeting, "Wearing "#rippedjeans" destroys our culture, it seems. It leads to substance abuse. And a societal breakdown. Women should strictly avoid this sacrilege against our pristine customs, says Uttarakhand CM. Dear BJP, this is your CM Tirath Singh Rawat: Do you endorse this," he wrote. Mr Jha also remarked, “A society getting ripped on divisive politics is fine. But “#rippedjeans” destroys our great culture. Kya baat hai!”

Amitabh Bachchan's granddaughter, Navya Nanda also responded to Mr Rawat's remarks. She took to her Instagram account and shared her photographs where she can be seen wearing ripped jeans. She also wrote, "Change your mentality before changing our clothes because the only thing shocking here is the message comments like this send to society.”