Aishwarya Rai represents Indian women not Diana Hayden: Tripura CM

Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Deb is at it again. After claiming that internet existed during the days of Mahabharata, he has now claimed that former Miss World Diana Haydon lacks Goddess like quality and is not an Indian beauty. 

Deb was at a design workshop on handlooms in Agartala on Thursday when he said Indian beauty should have the characteristics of Lakshmi and Saraswati, Goddesses of wealth and education. According to Deb, Haydon lacked those 'traits'. 

“Koi bhi aata hain to mil jata hain. Diana Hayden ko bhi mil jata hain (Anyone who enters beauty contests, gets a crown. Even Diana Hayden got it),” he said. 

Deb, however, was full praises for Aishwarya Rai, who according to him 'represented Indian women'. 

Aishwarya was crowned Miss World in 1994 and Diana won the title in 1999. 

“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.

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.

Earlier this month, Deb had claimed that Internet and satellite communication existed in the days of Mahabharata. 

Deb's comments did not go down well on Twitter as many slammed the Tripura CM  for his remarks. 

Activist Kavita Krishnan termed his comments as "stupid, sexist and communal".

"If biplab deb didn't exist, a comic writer would have invented him," columnist Salil Tripathi tweeted.

Delhi CM advisor Nagendar Sharma in a tweet said, "Though we are still in April, this most likely could qualify for the most ridiculous quote of 2018."