The newly appointed Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat made a series of major gaffes that raised eyebrows and guffaws in India such as the ‘ripped jeans’ remark, ‘US enslaved us for 200 years and once again “Why didn’t you produce 20 children for more ration, contracted the coronavirus and tweeted about it today, Monday
It is now discovered that he contracted COVID-19 and on Monday he tweeted that he had caught the coronavirus disease, urging all the people he met in the last few days to get tested. “My corona test report came back positive. I am fine and I have no problem. I have isolated myself under the supervision of the doctors. Those of you who have come in close contact with me in the last few days, please be cautious and get yourself checked,” He also tweeted, “I wish everyone good health.”
The new CM is now largely remembered for his series of blunderous comments. He first started by saying women are setting a “bad example” for society and leading to substance abuse by wearing ripped jeans, and everything starts at home for a good example. Facing flak where this comment trended in Twitter with over a lakh mentions, and mothers coming out with toddlers taking pictures with ripped jeans, he finally apologized and said he had no problems with jeans, just ripped jeans.
The Chief Minister shared of an incident where he had come across a woman ‘in ripped jeans’ who ran an NGO and expressed his distress about the kind of ‘message’ she is putting out to the world and 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.”
His comment was not very different from one of Rawat’s cabinet ministers Ganesh Joshi had similar opinions about a woman’s priorities. “Women talk about all things they want to do in life, but the most important thing for them is to look after their family and children.”
These comments came across to people as limiting the role of women only to homes and nothing more, set in a series of comments made by many ministers aimed negatively towards women, so it did not sit well, especially when the ruling party has spoken on “women’s empowerment.”
He made the big blunder when he once again said, “, ‘The US enslaved us for 200 years”, facing flak from all quarters due to his “lack of historical knowledge”, accused of illiteracy and ignorance for of course it was the British and not the Americans. He also gloated over the bad management of the US of COVID-19, unlike India who handled it very well. Using a global disaster such as COVID-19 to brag over own country’s accomplishments over others is very unsavvy, and ministers in such high positions would need to excel in the skills of language diplomacy.
He said, “America, which has less population and better health infrastructure than India, “dol gaya, bol gaya” and is now heading towards a lockdown. “As opposed to other countries, India is doing better in terms of handling the COVID19 crisis.”
Another botchy comment was, “Why didn’t you produce 20 children for more ration.” This was made in reference to the distribution of food grain during the pandemic, where he 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.
He said, ”Who is to blame for this,’’ “Now you are jealous of it. When there was time, you produced only two. Why didn’t you produce 20.”
This comment once again was clumsy, and perhaps in light of these reckless thoughtless comments, he was summoned to Delhi for a four-day visit, however, it was soon discovered that he contracted coronavirus and in recuperating in recovery presently.