'PM mocking varsities will only isolate India'

New Delhi: A Harvard University student has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi objecting to his recent jibe at the renowned US varsity, and said ‘mocking’ economists and credible academic institutions will only ‘isolate’ India from the world.

The letter from Prateek Kanwal, who hails from Chandigarh and is pursuing a Master’s Degree course in public policy at Harvard University, has been released online and has gone viral.

He said that when Modi made these remarks at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh last week, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan was addressing the students at Harvard University and ‘he specifically asked the university and the students to collaborate with your government.’

He said the Prime Minister’s remarks will push away Indians like him who wish to return to their country after studying abroad.

Armed with the latest GDP figures, Modi had last week mocked economists and made a veiled attack on his predecessor Manmohan Singh who had said the Centre’s demonetisation decision would lead to a low growth rate.