Biplab Deb, Tripura’s chief minister, has been in the news over the last week for his critique on model-actor Diana Hayden and view on existence of internet during Mahabharat.

Addressing a seminar organised by Tripura Veterinary Council on the eve of World Veterinary Day at Pragna Bhavan, Deb said: “The youth here runs after political parties for several years to get a government job and 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 lakh,” said Deb.

“There should be a cow in every house. Why run after netas for government jobs? Milk is being sold at Rs 50 per litre. Graduates should get cows and milk it to earn Rs 10 lakh in 10 years. Instead of running after political parties,” said the chief minister, who has been in the news over the last week for his critique on model-actor Diana Hayden and view on existence of internet during Mahabharat.

According to him, any unemployed youth with a minimum amount of Rs 75 thousand borrowed from the bank and with a little self-effort, can easily earn at least Rs 25,000 every month, but the hurdle in this is the culture that has grown in Tripura during the last 25 years.

He said there are narrow-minded concepts like a graduate cannot opt for farming, start poultry, or piggery because if he does so, his class will go down.

On Friday, the chief minister had said mechanical engineers should not go for civil services.

“In my view, civil engineers should join civil services but mechanical engineers should not,” Deb had said at a function in Agartala on Friday.

He argued that if a civil engineer becomes an Indian Administrative Services (IAS) officer, s/he can offer inputs in construction projects, which mechanical engineers cannot do.

His comment came days after he said former Miss World Diana Hayden did not represent Indian beauty. He had said that the characteristics of Indian beauty should be like Lakshmi and Saraswati, Hindu goddesses for wealth and education, and Hayden lacked them.

“Anyone who steps into beauty contests, get crown of Miss India or Miss World. Even Diana Hayden got it,” he said.

He, however, expressed regrets for his remarks, saying he was talking about how to promote handloom products in Tripura.

“I did not intend to hurt anyone, and I regret if anyone is hurt... I respect women as I respect my mother,” he was quoted as saying by ANI.

Weeks ago, the newly elected chief minister made a statement about existence of internet and satellite during Mahabharata era. Later, speaking on development issue at the civil services programme, Deb threw a challenge to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.

“I will bring development in Tripura in three years and I will show her comparison of economic growth of the two states. She should not look down at my state due to its small size. It is the size of vision, and not the size of a state, that matters for development,” Deb said.