BHOPAL:
BJP MLA
from Guna, Pannalal Shakya, has triggered a
controversy
by telling students that college
degrees
are of no use and they should rather open "motorcycle puncture repair shops". Ironically, Shakya's 'advice' came at the inauguration of a
PM College of Excellence
in
Guna
on Sunday - on the same day that Union home minister
Amit Shah
virtually unveiled such colleges in 55 districts of Madhya Pradesh at an event in Indore, 280km away.
Guna is the home turf of Lok Sabha MP and Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. Shakya (73) is in his second term as Guna MLA, having won the seat in 2013 as well. Energy minister Pradyuman Singh Tomar, a Scindia loyalist, inaugurated the PM Excellence College in Guna and Shakya was among the guests. In his speech, the MLA questioned the traditional view of colleges, remarking that they are "not compressor houses in which air can be filled according to the degree and the student can go away with the certificate".
Shakya urged the audience to prioritise protecting the 'Panch Tatwas' (Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Sky) and called upon people to participate in afforestation drives.
While concluding his speech, Shakya said, "We are inaugurating this college as Prime Minister College of Excellence. I request all of you to just keep one motto. Nothing is going to happen with a college degree. Open a motorcycle puncture repair shop, so that you can at least earn a livelihood." TOI contacted Shakya for comments, but the call was disconnected after he heard the question.
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