Dehradun: Newly appointed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat stroked a massive controversy with his statement on women wearing ripped jeans and how it sets "bad example" at home for children. Rawat made the controversial remarks on Tuesday during a workshop organised by the Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Dehradun.
While speaking at the event, Singh said that he was shocked to see a woman running an NGO in ripped jeans, and was concerned about the kind of example she was setting for the society.
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"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 from home as our kids follow what we do. A child who is taught the right culture at home, no matter how modern he becomes, will never fail in life," the Chief Minister said.
Singh even went further to express his distress for "bare knees" being exposed by children and argued that while western world is adopting India's yoga and covering their bodies, "we are running towards nudity".
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"Kaynchi se sanskaar (culture by scissors) - showing bare knees, wearing ripped denim and looking like rich kids - these are the values being given now. Where is this coming from?? What is the fault of teachers or schools? Where am I taking my son, showing his knees and in tattered jeans? Girls are no less, showing their knees. Is this good," Singh said.
Singh's statement took the internet with a storm with netizens criticising Uttarakhand CM for his yicky remarks. Several female Twitter users started positing images wearing ripped jeans asking why he is not shocked to see women being harassed, raped and killed almost everyday.
Congress senior leader Sanjay Jha also slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over Singh's controversial remarks. "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," Jha tweeted.