With the hashtags #GirlsWhoWearRippedJeans and #RippedJeansTwitter, Bollywood celebs and netizens have taken social media by storm to condemn Uttarakhand state chief Tirath Singh Rawat’s controversial remark suggesting that women who wear ripped jeans set a bad example in society.
During his speech at a workshop organised by the Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Rawat rebuked women wearing ripped jeans.
“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”.
Rawat claimed that the Western influence is affecting the Indian culture and expressed his distaste for "bare knees" being exposed by wearing ripped jeans by boys or girls.
"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?" the state chief said.
Celebrities and netizens have taken to social media sharing pictures in ripped jeans and blasting his remarks.
Shocked by such a statement, veteran Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan’s granddaughter Navya Naveli Nanda said there is a need to bring change to such a mentality.
Navya wrote on her Instagram stories, "WTF... Change your mentality before changing our clothes because the only thing shocking here is the message comments like this send to society... I'll wear my ripped jeans proudly".
Actress Swara Bhaskar shared a user’s tweet stating that "ripped jeans are cool, unlike ripped democracy”.
Meanwhile, singer Sona Mohapatra shared a picture in a ripped T-shirt and mini skirt, saying that “#GirlsWhoWearRippedJeans don’t need anyone’s permission in India”.
Ankur Tewari also took a jibe at state chief Rawat by saying that “they are more concerned with people wearing ripped jeans than people not wearing masks”.
Social media is flooded with netizens' reactions to Rawat’s comment with pictures in ripped jeans and sending out a strong message that one’s style of dress doesn’t define a person and lessen their ethics and values.
What do ripped jeans have to do with #values & #culture ? If men can wear shorts, so can women. I’m equating #rippedjeans with shorts. On culture, I wonder about #Shakuntala and her relatively short and tight clothes (which I have no problems with) 🤔... #GirlsWhoWearRippedJeans
Time to rip apart the glass ceiling of misogyny and toxic patriarchy! #RippedJeansTwitter#GirlsWhoWearRippedJeans#RippedJeanspic.twitter.com/yBluTVEVey