Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat found himself in the middle of a heated controversy recently after he made a rather tasteless comment on women wearing ripped jeans.

He said, “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.”

#WATCH मैं एक दिन हवाई जहाज से जयपुर से आ रहा था। मेरे बगल में एक बहनजी बैठी थी। मैंने उनकी तरफ देखा नीचे गम बूट थे। जब और ऊपर देखा तो जींस घुटने से फटी हुई थी। 2 बच्चे उनके साथ में थे। महिला NGO चलाती है। समाज के बीच में जाती हो। क्या संस्कार दोगे?: उत्तराखंड CM तीरथ सिंह रावत pic.twitter.com/sGri6pPH7K

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) March 17, 2021

He said, "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, if not at home? 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.”

Just after his comments, #RippedJeansTwitter started trending on Twitter along with women sharing their pictures in ripped jeans. 

Clearly, Indian women are sending out a message that one's choice of clothing does not dictate one's choices or what they are capable of doing.

I think it's time for #RippedJeansTwitter pic.twitter.com/ZFuHGMkxoR

— Tanaya Patnaik (@tanaya_p) March 17, 2021

In solidarity with the woman with the two kids trying to get somewhere who bore the brunt of a clearly sleazy man checking her out because she was wearing ripped jeans. #RippedJeansTwitter pic.twitter.com/N3fWgvlCBD

— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) March 17, 2021

Ripped jeans anyday better than ripped brains! #RippedJeansTwitter 🏻‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/ibB6X4baGh

— Bhumika Chheda (@IamBhumikaC) March 17, 2021

#RippedJeansTwitter
What a perfect day to flaunt this madness! pic.twitter.com/1KkiwNbB0M

— deepali desai (@desaideepali) March 17, 2021

My clothes don't determine my character!#RippedJeansTwitter pic.twitter.com/qWSJGs8x3x

— Pooja (@PoojaSh86190741) March 17, 2021

Saheb.. it’s just a piece of clothing not a message board... #RippedJeansTwitter P.S - my ripped jeans ... not sending any message pic.twitter.com/ObDjZ9WRL8

— Jyoti thakur (@Iamjyotithakur) March 17, 2021

Joining the trend was Amitabh Bachchan's granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda, who took to Instagram and wrote, “WTF! Change your mentality before changing our clothes because the only shocking here is the message comments like this send to society."

© Navya Nanda Instagram

In another Instagram story, she shared a picture of herself in ripped jeans and wrote, "I'll wear my ripped jeans. Thank you. And I'll wear them proudly."

© Navya Nanda Instagram

Gul Panang also took to Twitter saying,"Takes out ripped jeans." And then she shared a picture of herself in ripped jeans.

#RippedJeansTwitter pic.twitter.com/zwitZiIE9k

— Gul Panag (@GulPanag) March 17, 2021

Hard to believe Indian politicians are still making such sexist and misogynist comments in this day and age. When will it stop?

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