After ripped jeans row, Rawat's 'Kumbh Mela' remarks spark controversy

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat has once again sparked controversy when he said Maha Kumbh Mela is organised in Banaras. Rawat had faced criticism over his ripped jeans, ration and America-US remarks earlier.

Haridwar: Days after drawing flak over 'ripped jeans' remarks, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat on Wednesday once again stirred another controversy. Rawat said that the Maha Kumbh Mela is organised in Banaras while inaugurating programmes related to the Maha Kumbh Mela in Haridwar.

In a goof-up during his speech at the programme, Rawat said "Kumbh Mela is organised after every 12 years. It is not organised every year. Melas can be organised in different parts of the country. It is also organised in Banaras."

It is pertinent to note that Kumbh Mela, a famous pilgrimage, is organised at four river-bank pilgrimage sites which include Allahabad, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain.

For Hindus, Kumbh Mela is a major pilgrimage. The mela is celebrated in a cycle of 12 years at four river-bank pilgrimage locations -- the Allahabad (Ganges-Yamuna Sarasvati rivers confluence), Haridwar (Ganges), Nashik (Godavari) and Ujjain (Shipra).

However, the minister said that Kumbh Mela is organised in Banaras too.

The leader's remarks has once again become a subject of mockery for the opposition and netizens on social media.

However, this is not the first time that Rawat has given controversial statements. He had compared Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Lord Ram and Lord Krishna.

READ: Chief Minister Rawat issues 'ripped jeans' apology

His statements sparked a nationwide uproar when he said he was shocked to see a woman running an NGO in ripped jeans, and was concerned about the example she was setting for society.

Rawat said that due to a lack of values, young people, including women, follow strange fashion trends these days by wearing jeans ripped at the knees. Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Alka Lamba attacked the BJP leader over his remarks.

READ:Uttarakhand CM's remark on women sparks controversy

Girls and women from all age groups flooded social media with pictures of them wearing ripped jeans.

He also faced criticism for saying people should have produced more children to get extra ration during the coronavirus pandemic.

In another factual error, the BJP leader apparently confused Britain with the US, saying America ruled over India for over 200 years.

Rawat, who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus on March 22, has now tested negative for the same.

READ: Tirath blames 'family planning' for difference in rationing