PM Narendra Modi’s historical decision on demonetizing the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes has initially roped in wide acclaim but later ended up bashing him for the improper planning of the deed. If the afterwards events of demonetization were rightly planned, then demonetization might be considered as a successful changeover.

Now we have to wait for the long term results, which the prominent people have been saying about so far. Approximately, a month after the demonetization, former Prime Minister DR Manmohan Singh has earlier spoken that the idea was good but the implementation was lame.

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After a lot of criticism, Modi recently made some eccentric comments on the country’s leading economists, he purposefully involved his predecessor Manmohan Singh for his comments on demonetization, Modi said:

“Big scholars, some from Harvard, some from Oxford…some
said there will be a drop of 2 percent in the GDP, others said 4 per cent drop (after demonetization)… But the country has seen what the people from Harvard think and what hard working people think.”

After these statements given by Modi, an Indian student Prateek Kanwal from Chandigarh who studies Master’s Degree course in public policy slammed Modi in his open letter. According to him, Modi’s biased statements on education are leading the educated people to isolate themselves from India.

Earlier, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan interacted with the students in Harvard University, urged them to collaborate with the government adding that various alumni of Oxford and Harvard were already there in Ministries and Modi’s Cabinet.

Prateek says that the statements made by Dharmendra ji are regarding the mutual support for the welfare of the country and Modi’s statements are quite contrary to this. Detailing the minister’s words he said:

“he specifically asked the university and the students to collaborate with your government” Prateek then added that, if students like him are insulted in such a way, then they might end up isolating themselves from India, settle over abroad.

“To develop a country as diverse as India, you will need the help of people who bring a different perspective to the table. Mocking economists and credible academic institutions will only isolate us from the world” he said in his letter.

Prateek depicts himself as a “hardworking Nationist”,“We are trained in the ‘evidence-based learning’ approach, which helps in designing and implementing policies effectively so that disasters such as demonetisation can be avoided.”

“While you were making these remarks in Uttar Pradesh, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan was addressing us at Harvard and he specifically asked the university and the students to collaborate with your government,” he concluded.