At MP college opening event, BJP MLA disses degrees; asks students to open puncture shops
Guna (MP), Jul 15: A BJP MLA in Madhya Pradesh advised students to open "motorcycle puncture repair shops" since nothing would be gained by obtaining degrees, the statement ironically coming at an event to inaugurate a 'PM College of Excellence' in his Guna assembly constituency.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had e-inaugurated PM College of Excellence in 55 districts in the state on Sunday at a function held in Indore, with separate events held in the respective districts, including Guna.
"We are opening a PM College of Excellence today. I appeal to everyone to keep one sentence (bodh vakya) in mind that nothing is going to happen with these college degrees. Instead, open a motorcycle puncture repair shop to at least earn a livelihood," BJP MLA Pannalal Shakya said at the event.
Congress General Secretary (In-charge, Communications) Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at the BJP over the remarks by the party MLA.
"We must credit the BJP for the top-class discipline in their economic messaging. The self-anointed divinity talks about the virtues of selling 'pakodas' as an antidote to unemployment, and their MLAs dismiss college degrees as 'useless' and urge students to open puncture shops," Ramesh said on X.
In an apparent reference to the mega plantation drive held in Indore on Sunday, during which a world record 11 lakh-plus saplings were planted in a span of 24 hours, Shakya said, "People are planting trees but not interested in watering them".
One must first try to save the 'panchtatva (five elements comprising earth, air, water, solar energy and sky) that forms the human body, he said.
"There is concern over pollution and environment but nobody is working in this direction (saving panchtatva). How long will we protect the trees we planted today and ensure they grow," he asked, while pointing out to what he claimed was rampant encroachment on government land along rivers and drains.
People are eating anything without caring about side-effects, Shakya added.
"डिग्री से कुछ नहीं होने वाला, पंक्चर की दुकान खोल लेना"
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) July 15, 2024
◆ गुना से BJP विधायक पन्नालाल शाक्य ने कहा#Guna | Pannalal Shakya | #PannalalShakya pic.twitter.com/lxUCZU4EN8
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
