New Uttarakhand CM ‘apologises’ but says wearing torn jeans not right Tirath Singh Rawat

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat on Friday said that he apologises for the remark if it has hurt anybody, though he still believes that wearing “torn” ones is “not right”.

Referring to his remark made earlier this week, the new Uttarakhand CM told the media that he had commented that nowadays children bring a costly jean home and then cut it with a scissor. He had only talked about the environment at home and this applies to him as well, Rawat said.

“If we inculcate good values and discipline in children, they will never fail in future,” the CM added, stressing that he had made the comment at a programme held to keep the children away from intoxicants and other evils.

Describing himself as a man from a rural background, the CM on Friday said whenever his pant was torn in schooldays, he feared that his teacher would scold him. Due to discipline and values, we used cover it with a patch, he said.

Rawat had drawn flak after at an event earlier this week he said youngsters follow strange fashion trends due to a lack of values and consider themselves to be big shots after wearing jeans ripped at the knees. Women also follow such trends.

The Uttarakhand CM then went on to describe the attire of a woman who sat next to him on a flight. He described her as wearing boots, jeans ripped at the knees, bangles in her hands and with two children travelling with her. He also said she runs an NGO, goes out in society and has two children and wondered what values she would give them.