Don't chase government jobs, set up 'paan' shops : Tripura CM Biplab Deb

Few days back he had drawn widespread criticism for his remark on Diana Hayden.

Biplab Kumar Deb (PIC/Twitter account/ File)

New Delhi: Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb has once again fuelled a controversy after his statement  regarding employment of youths in government jobs on Saturday. He has suggested that the youths of Tripura, especially the educated section, should not chase government jobs, rather become self-employed by opening ‘paan’ shops. (betel shops). According to the Tripura CM, the youth runs after political parties for several years to get a government job & wastes the vital time of their life, had the same youth instead of running after parties set up a paan shop he would have by now had a bank balance of Rs 5 lakhs. While addressing people at a seminar he said, “Youths waste a lot of time looking for government jobs. They either resort to private tuitions for three to four thousands or keep on struggling. After years he realizes that had he opened a ‘paan’ shop earlier, he would have collected Rs 5 lakh in his savings account.” The Tripura CM had said these lines while praising Modi government’s Mudra Yojana that provides loan for small scale enterprises. The statement was immediately caught up by the media houses and the CM had to face flak over his statement, for which he had to later express regret. The opposition too slammed the remarks of the Tripura CM. His statement reminds of the “pakoda” statement by PM Narendra Modi earlier. He had raised many eyebrows with his comment on civil services.  He said that those who have studied mechanical engineering should not prepare for civil services. Civil engineers own the prowess to build society..those who are in administration they have to build the society.” This is not the first time Deb has given a controversial statement. Previously too he had to face bitter criticism for his remarks. Last week he questioned the rationale behind crowning Diana Hayden “Miss World” 21 years ago and drew widespread criticisms. He was all praises for Aishwarya Rai and said she has the traits of Indian beauty. Calling beauty pageants as farce, he further said “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?"