BJP demands Kejriwal's apology for defaming Modi, AAP claims degrees are fake

AAP accuses Delhi University of sealing the original documents, DU Vice- Chancellor refutes

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday fielded its topmost leaders to make public the graduation and postgraduation degrees of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP President Amit Shah demanded a public apology from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for terming the PM’s degrees fake, while Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief was indulging in politics of adventurism as a substitute to politics of governance.

The AAP persisted with its allegations that the degrees were not genuine, but the PM received support from an unlikely quarter. “For me these (questions on PM’s degrees) are non issues,” said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. BJP President Shah said the PM was unlikely to file a case of defamation against Kejriwal. The AAP plans to send a team to Delhi University to verify the documents made public by BJP leaders. Shah and Jaitley released copies of Modi’s bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

According to the document, the PM graduated from the Delhi University as an “external candidate” in 1978. He had enrolled in the BA (Pass) course in 1974 and passed it in third division four years later. They also released his BA mark sheets. AAP leader Ashutosh alleged there were discrepancies in the documents, including how the PM’s name was spelt differently in the BA degree and the mark sheets as ‘Modi’ as well as ‘Mody’.

“In some places, it is Narendra Kumar Damoderdas and in others Narendra Damoderdas,” he said.

AAP leaders also alleged there were discrepancies in totalling of the marks.

Jaitley said he remembered Modi visiting Delhi in post-Emergency years to appear for his exams. The Finance Minister berated AAP for raising the issue. Jaitley said the PM comes from a humble background and completed his schooling and college studies while being involved in social work. “The AAP, since it claims to represent aspirations of the common man, should have applauded the PM. Instead, they have levelled unverified allegations without checking facts. They have brought public discourse to the lowest level,” Jaitley said.

Jaitley pointed out the allegations came from a party which has legislators who have been prosecuted for fake degrees. “In this case, the threat to federal polity comes from a Union territory,” he said. The PM passed his MA in first division from the Gujarat University in 1983, he added.

Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Tyagi said he has not issued any orders to seal the university records. “I have not issued any such orders and if the university department dealing with RTIs has done it in its own capacity, I am not updated about it,” Tyagi told PTI.

Asked about the veracity of the degrees, copies of which were released by BJP President Amit Shah, Tyagi did not comment. “We have received an order from the Central Information Commission (CIC) and we will respond to it after checking our records,” he said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter, alleging DU has sealed the records. “Docs in DU hv been sealed. BJP presents Farzi docs in a PC n gets real records sealed? Why? Implement CIC order. Allow inspection,” he said.