She also said, "It's obviously that our skin colour difference is on his (Biplab Deb) mind as he's comparing me to Ash & not Priyanka or Manushi who currently holds the Miss World title, & very deservedly so! Shame on him as our beautiful, exotic brown colouring is to be proud of"
She further added "That's some strong disapproval of me winning the Miss World title! With regards to me winning the Miss World it's a pity, and shame, that when you win the biggest and most respected beauty pageant in the world you get criticised and put down as opposed to appreciated and respected for bringing more accolades back home and further appreciation of our Indian brown exotic beauty. It's also hurtful. What is especially sad is the bigger issue here. Being brown skinned I've had to fight (society's attitude and while growing up my own lack of self confidence because of my darker skin colour) the 'light skin is better' issue we have in India. I felt so strongly about it that I turned down a fairness cream ad because it went against my belief. We are Indians and predominantly our skin colour is brown and we should be really proud of it and learn to appreciate it like it's appreciated around the world. "
"It's obviously that our skin colour difference is on his mind as he's comparing me to Ash and not Priyanka or Manushi who currently holds the Miss World title, and very deservedly so! Shame on him as our beautiful, exotic brown colouring is to be proud of; I sure am!"
Earlier, the BJP leader, however, was all praise for Aishwarya Rai, who won the Miss World crown in 1994, saying she "represents the Indian women" in the true sense.
"Indian women did not use cosmetics in the old times. Indians did not use shampoo, they washed their hair with methi water and bathed with mud. These beauty pageant organisers are international marketing mafia, who spotted a huge market in the country. Today, there is a beauty parlour in every corner of the country," he said.
Deb's comments came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi cautioned the BJP leaders to steer clear of controversies and not offer "masala" to the media by making irresponsible statements.
The Tripura chief minister also claimed that the international beauty contests were a farce as the results were all predetermined.
"Whoever contested the international beauty pageants won. For five consecutive years, we won the Miss World/Miss Universe awards. Diana Hayden won it too. Do you think she should have won the title?" Deb said.
Addressing a day-long design workshop on handlooms and handicrafts at the Prajna Bhavan here, Deb spoke in a mixture of Bengali and Hindi: "Bitorko ho jayega...Aap kya bolte ho Biplab Deb?" (There will be a controversy. What are you saying Biplab Deb?)
"They make the girls walk with fabric on the ramps. Those who give the certificates are all international textile market mafia. They plan beforehand who will get the award and this is 100 per cent true," the BJP leader said.
He said he failed to understand the "process of judgement" of the crowning of the Miss World contest in 1997, in which Diana Hayden had got the award.
"We see women as goddess Laxmi, Saraswati. Aishwarya Rai represents the Indian women. She became the Miss World and that's all right. But I do not understand the beauty of Diana Hayden," Deb, who became the chief minister last month, said.
"Why are there no more beauty pageant winners from India? They (the jury) have captured the market in the country and have gone elsewhere," he claimed.