Tripura Chief MInister Biplab Kumar Deb would have squirmed on hearing the news of a Haryanvi topping the prestigious UPSC Civil Services Examination exams on Tuesday. Just two weeks back, the Chief Minister had invited severe criticism for saying ‘Jats have inferior intelligence’.

Almost on cue, a Congress leader from Haryana made it a point to rub it in that a man from Haryana had beaten everyone else to the post. “Heartiest Congratulations to dear Pradeep Singh Malik on securing All India Rank No 1 in UPSC Civil Services Examination, announced today. We all are so proud of Pradeep’s achievement…BJP’s CM @BjpBiplab may kindly note #IASTopper is from #Haryana,” tweeted Dr Vineet Punia, Secretary (Communication), Indian National Congress.

IRS officer Pradeep Singh,29, topped the list of 829 candidates who have qualified for the prestigious civil services, including the IAS, the IPS and the IFS, the Union Public Service Commission announced on Tuesday.

The top three rank holders — Singh, Jatin Kishore and Pratibha Verma — are serving officers. Singh is a resident of Haryana, while Kishore hails from Delhi and Verma from Uttar Pradesh.

“It is like a dream come true. It is a pleasant surprise for me. I always wanted to be an IAS officer. I would like to work for the deprived sections of society,” Singh told PTI on phone from his home in Sonipat.

Tripura Chief Minister Deb had on July 21 said, “Jats have inferior intelligence, they are healthy and muscular but they don’t compare with Bengalis in intelligence, Bengalis are known for their intelligence across India,” Deb said at an event in Agartala. “…A large number of Jats live in Haryana. So what do people say about Jats? Jats are less intelligent but are very healthy. If one challenges a Jat, he will bring a gun from his house,” he had said.

This invited instant backlash from political parties and on social media. Calling the comment ‘shameful and unfortunate’, Congress leader from Haryana Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted, “Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb has insulted Jats and Sikhs by saying that they are of inferior intelligence. This reeks of the BJP’s petty mentality.”

Deb quickly jumped in for damage control saying that he was just mentioning views of some people. “I did not intend to hurt any community. I’m proud of both Punjabi & Jat communities. I myself have lived among them for a long time,” the Tripura CM had said.