Why thousands of women in India are sharing pictures of themselves in ripped jeans

Over the past week, #RippedJeans has been trending online after thousands of women across India posted pictures of themselves wearing them.

But the trend is far from a fashion statement. It is an open act of defiance.

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It all started when Tirath Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, made a comment about ripped jeans while at a workshop on substance abuse, organised by the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights in Dehradun.

Mr Rawat recalled being on a plane when he saw a woman who was wearing jeans torn at the knees.

He said it caused him to question her morality.

Mr Rawat said the woman, he said, was a charity worker and was accompanied by two children.

“You run an NGO, wear ripped jeans, move about in society with children. What values will you teach?” he was caught on camera saying.

He criticised her for copying western culture, saying people in India were now wearing ripped jeans while those in other countries are covering up and practising yoga.

Hours after Mr Rawat made his comments, they went viral online, with the hashtags #RippedJeans and #RippedJeansTwitter trending for days.

Hundreds of women have taken to Twitter to post pictures of themselves in ripped jeans and tagging Rawat.

His comments seem to have spurred an increased love for the garment, as more women promised to wear them.

“A message to society: #rippedjeans or otherwise, leave us and our choices alone” tweeted Karishma Mehta, founder of the Humans of Bombay page.

Actress Gul Panag simply shared a picture of herself wearing them.

Another actress, Shruti Seth, shared a tweet saying she was “ripping all her jeans”.

Yet another actress, Kangana Ranaut, weighed in by sharing a snap of herself in ripped jeans, along with advice to make sure it looks like "your style, not your state as a homeless beggar".

Here is a look at some of the best reactions to the minister’s controversial comments.

Blogger Ginia said it was time to "rip apart the glass ceiling of misogyny":

Karishma Mehta, founder of Humans of Bombay, got involved:

As did actress Gul Panag:

Architect Seetu Mahajan Kohli said it was the "narrow-minded brains that needed mending", not the jeans.

Entrepreneur Vishakha said a picture was worth a thousand words.

And journalist Rohini Singh said she stood in solidarity with the woman to whom Rawat was referring.

Mr Rawat has since issued an apology for his statement, saying he did not mean to offend anyone and was broadly speaking about inculcating good values and discipline in children.