Tirath Singh Rawat, the chief minister of Uttarkhand, a state in northern India, made a statement the other day.
Mr. Rawat did not speak about the terrible disaster that took place in the state a few weeks ago, an avalanche that has possibly killed dozens of workers – they are still searching for bodies.
Nor did Mr. Rawat talk about Coronavirus.
Instead, Mr. Rawat shared with us his outrage about ripped jeans.
Yup, you read that correctly.
Ripped jeans.
Mr. Rawat doesn’t approve of ripped jeans.
Especially women wearing ripped jeans.

Let’s hear this august gentleman’s exact words, should we? (I’m sharing the translated version, for my non-Hindi speaking readers):
“Mr Rawat made the comments on Tuesday at a workshop organised by the Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Dehradun.
He shared an encounter with a young mother with two children on a flight – the head of an NGO – in ripped jeans and expressed concern over the example she was setting for society.
Now you know what, in the interests of total transparency, I should also admit that I’m not a fan of ripped jeans either.
But not for the same reasons as the estimable Mr. Rawat, in case you were wondering.
I don’t like ripped jeans because, well, I just don’t like them.
I don’t like the idea of “damaging” clothes on purpose.
But that’s it.
I have to admit I’d never thought that gals wearing ripped jeans were such a threat to the moral fabric of this country, but after all, who am I to know how this country ticks?
Anyway, though I (sort of) find myself in the unlikely company of a Chief Minister on the subject of ripped jeans, there are lots of feisty young Indian women who are making their own views heard on Twitter:


Rock on, ladies!
You all look smashing, ripped jeans ‘n all 🙂

Good article, Christine. Like you I’m not keen on the ripped jeans look but really, what a plonker!
Looks like he got t-ripped!
I’m with you – don’t like ripped jeans – but would fight to the death for anyone’s right to wear them, except perhaps to work, to a wedding etc.
I suppose expounding on ripped Jean’s saves him from have to worry too much about more serious matters, like Covid and avalanches. Poor man, they are such a threat aren’t they? I mean, if girls start wearing fashionable clothes … heaven help us, they might start thinking for themselves …. and where would we be then?
Sorry sarcasm doesn’t become me!