Tripura’s newly-crowned BJP chief-minister Biplab Kumar Deb has triggered a huge controversy by stating that internet and satellite facilities existed in ancient India even during the time the epic Mahabharat is believed to have happened.

BJP broke the back of the CPI-M in the State by bringing to an end the 25-year long rule of communist chief-minister Manik Sarkar by winning an absolute majority in the Tripura assembly in the recently-held Assembly polls.  Deb was sworn-in as the chief-minister after leading the party to victory in the ‘Communist Fort’.

Speaking at a recent event in Agartala, Deb said that he was sure facilities such as internet and satellites were very much in existence in ancient India and even during the Mahabharat times.  He referred to blind Gaurava King Dridharashtra getting to watch the proceedings of the epic Mahabharata war right from his palace.  “This could have been possible only because of the satellite technology available then,” he added.

“European Union and the U.S. might claim to be the ‘founders’ of internet service while actually, the credit ought to go to ancient India,” Deb opined.  “Indians were technically and technologically very, very advanced several thousand years back and I’m proud of the fact that India has such a rich tradition and culture,” he remarked.  “Several Indians own top positions in Microsoft even today,” Deb concluded.