Jats & Punjabis ‘less brainy’, Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb stirs another row with his claims

The Tripura CM's comments at a conference Sunday are the latest in a long string of such faux pas. He once said satellite tech existed in ancient India and that Buddha had walked to Japan.

Chief Minister of Tripura Biplab Deb | Twitter | @BjpBiplab

New Delhi: Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala Monday shared a video of Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb allegedly terming Sardars and Haryanvi Jats as “less brainy”.

In the 48-second clip, CM Deb can be heard saying, “When we talk about the Punjabis, we say the Sardars are not afraid of anyone. They have a lot of strength but they are less brainy.” He goes on to explain that the Jats of Haryana are physically well-built but have “limited brains”.

शर्मनाक व दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण!

भाजपा के मुख्यमंत्री, त्रिपुरा,बिप्लब देव ने पंजाब के सिख भाइयों व हरियाणा के जाट समाज को अपमानित कर उनका “दिमाग़ कम” बताया

ये भाजपा की औछी मानसिकता है।

खट्टरजी व दुष्यंत चौटाला चुप्प क्यों हैं?
मोदी जी और नड्डाजी कहाँ हैं?
माफ़ी माँगे, कार्यवाही करें pic.twitter.com/whI8QOyKVk

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) July 20, 2020

“Bengalis too have an identity – they are intelligent. It is widely said that none can beat the wit of the Bengalis …. it is their identity in India every community is known with a certain type and character,” Deb adds.

The Tripura CM made the comments at a conference of the Tripura Electronic Media Society in Agartala Sunday. However, this is not the first time that Deb has made such a faux pas.

Wrong Covid facts, Diana Hayden, Buddha & mechanical engineers

On 3 April this year, the Tripura CM had attributed incorrect Covid-19 data to the neighbouring states of Assam and Manipur.

“In our neighbouring Karimganj, as many as 16 Covid-19 positive cases were recorded. Nineteen cases were recorded in Manipur. That’s why we have sealed the Tripura border,” he said. In fact, Karimganj in Assam had just one Covid case, while the state had 16 in total. Manipur had just two cases at the point.

The Manipur Congress instantly asked him to be careful with his numbers, with the party’s spokesperson Bupenda Meitei warning him that such information “may create chaos and panic to the people of India with regard to Manipur”.

In April 2018, Biplab Kumar Deb had made a series of such statements after he came to power by ending the 25-year-rule of the CPI-M-led Left front government.

He had called beauty contests a farce, adding that Indians no longer win such pageants because the “international marketing mafia” had already captured the Indian market. He had said he didn’t think that Miss World 1997, Diana Hayden, was worthy of the beauty pageant.

“Any Indian contestant seemed to be able to take part in the Miss World contest and win the crown, even Diana Hayden got it. I am not criticising her but did not find traits of Indian beauty in her,” he had said.

In another instance, Deb claimed that internet and satellite communications existed in the times of Mahabharata. “Internet and satellite communication had existed in the days of Mahabharata. Sanjaya (the charioteer of king Dhritarashtra) using the technology gave a detailed account and description to the blind king about the battle of Kurukshetra.”

Deb had also said that mechanical engineers shouldn’t join civil services. “Those who are from a mechanical engineering background should not opt for civil services. Society has to be built up,” he had said.

At a Buddha Purnima event, Deb had said that Buddha walked across India to reach Japan, Tibet and Myanmar to spread a message of peace and harmony. “Gautam Buddha had traveled across India, Bangladesh, Japan and Tibet on foot to spread his message of peace,” Deb claimed.

Historians say Buddha never travelled to Japan. However, later, Tripura chief minister’s secretariat clarified that his statement was misinterpreted.