Recently, Tripura’s chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb has been criticised for his absurd comments on various national issues. His xenophobic comments on Diana Hayden’s victory in the Miss World Pageant in 1997, hinting at her skin colour, was one such example. This was followed by another comment on how civil engineers, and not mechanical engineers, should join the civil services. In his most recent controversial comment, he claimed that the late Rabindranath Tagore refused to accept the Nobel Prize for Literature to protest against the British rule in India. The above statements have led him to lose his credibility. In my opinion, it’s also demeaned the position of a chief minister in the nation’s political sphere.
‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ is probably one of the most popular slogans in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ranks. The yojana also promises to educate the children (more specifically, girls) in our country. But when I hear such preposterous comments from our own politicians and lawmakers, it makes me question my own education.
But, BJP is not the sole culprit here. Here are some statements by politicians from various parties that have made me doubt my education.
“If we were racist, why would we live with South Indians?”– Tarun Vijay, former BJP MP
On April 7, 2017, the former BJP MP told Al Jazeera television – “If we were racist, why would we live with South Indians?’”
Now, this statement is paradoxical! It’s like saying that he’s not a racist but a xenophobe. In school, I was taught that we live with South Indians because they’re also a part of our country. They are Indians too, and they’re no less than my brother and sisters. So, have I been taught wrong? Is it really an obligation to live with the people in the south? If so, I wouldn’t mind sharing my home with them.
“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?“- Bilap Deb, Tripura CM
On April 27, 2018, Bilap Deb made this comment, questioning the victory of Diana Hayden at the Miss World contest in 1997.
Hmm… And here I used to think that the contest was supposed to represent women from all states of India! And isn’t dark beautiful? Why are we so obsessed with fair skin? If dark is ugly, then I want to be as ‘ugly’ as Diana Hayden or even Beyoncé.
“When you can buy ice cream for ₹20, why complain about price rise?” –Palaniappan Chidambaram, Former Home Minister
The following member of the India National Congress justified rising prices by saying that if we have money to buy stuff like ice-cream, then it is okay for prices to increase, as per their wish.
I must be wrong because the economics lessons taught me that inflation always results in the economy getting poorer, leading to poverty. Maybe, I should review those lessons again!
“There has been no loss to the government from 2G spectrum allocation.” – Kapil Sibal, member of INC
Is this statement true? Has our country really lost nothing?
In that case, has Vijay Mallya also escaped only with money he earned at monopoly games? If so, then what happened to the ₹9,000 crore that Mr Mallya was supposed to have stolen?
These statements perhaps don’t even scratch the surface of the bizarre ‘facts’ that our politicians have claimed. Such claims only lead to mass confusion. All through my life, have I only been taught the wrong things?
To find what’s true (and not), I’ve joined a website called Throb. Throb is a website that collects opinions from thousands of people and shares the opinions and views of others as well. It finds what is popular and gives a voice to many others like me! If you’re as dazed and confused like me, then join Throb and voice your opinion. This way, we can find information, opinions and facts that’ll only help us. Knowledge is power, after all!