Uttarakhand CM’s statement on ‘ripped’ jeans draws flak

Heera Jangpangi, a women’s rights activist, said the statement is completely unwelcome. “Nobody has the right to ...[speak about] one’s attire,” she said. “It is just a sign of patriarchal mindset.”

Women rights activists and the opposition Congress on Wednesday criticised Uttarakhand chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat’s comments a day earlier that wearing ripped jeans is not Indian culture but aping of the West.

Uttarakhand chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat. (PTI)

“Showing bare knees by wearing ripped jeans just to look like rich kids is the value given now which is just a race towards westernisation when the Western world today is following us. Ripped jeans pave the way for societal breakdown and is a bad example parents set for children,” he said.

Heera Jangpangi, a women’s rights activist, said the statement is completely unwelcome. “Nobody has the right to ...[speak about] one’s attire,” she said. “It is just a sign of patriarchal mindset.”

Congress leader Garima Dasauni said being the chief minister does not give Rawat a right to speak on anyone’s lifestyle choices. “It was a highly derogatory statement... He has no right to speak on anyone’s attire or food habits...”