Though no elections are lined up for his state, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat has been adept as keeping himself in the headlines. Following his controversial remark about women wearing ripped jeans, Rawat has now blamed the US for “200 years of rule in India”.
In a speech, where he sought to praise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and compare India’s better performance against COVID-19 with that of the United States, Rawat said that America had “enslaved us” for 200 years and ruled the world, only to struggle now against the virus.
#WATCH "...As opposed to other countries, India is doing better in terms of handling #COVID19 crisis. America, who enslaved us for 200 years and ruled the world, is struggling in current times," says Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat pic.twitter.com/gHa9n33W2O
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2021
Possibly intending to refer to the idea of "the West" having ruled India, Rawat had a history of opposition to so-called Western ideals.
Rawat continues to face flak for his comments saying he was shocked to see women wearing ripped jeans, which sparked an online protest movement where women shared photos of their ripped jeans in defiance.
Rawat was unrepentant following the backlash, saying that wearing ripped jeans “just to look like rich kids is the value given now which is just a race towards westernisation.” He added that ripped jeans “pave the way for societal breakdown” and that it is a bad example parents set for their children.
At the same event where he made the comments about America, Rawat, referring to the distribution of foodgrain during the pandemic, said every affected household was given 5 kg of ration per member. "Those having 10 children got 50 kg while those with 20 got one quintal. People with two children got 10 kg. People built stores and found buyers," Rawat said, adding that he never ate such fine rice. "Who is to blame for this," the CM asked.
"Now you are jealous of it. When there was time, you produced only two. Why didn't you produce 20," Rawat said.
With inputs from PTI
