(Image source from: Is the 12th pass Smriti Irani unfit for Modi's Cabinet?})
Even before the "bahu" of the Indian television got a chance of revel in her newly designated Cabinet post and acquaint herself with the functioning of the ministry, Narendra Modi's blue-eyed girl and Union Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani has landed herself in soup.
As if the big row over her ineligibility to shoulder the responsibility of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry due to lack of academic qualification wasn't enough, Smriti Irani is now facing flak from left, right and center for furnishing contradicting affidavits to the Election Commission of India while filing her nomination papers for the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 and 2014.
In 2004, when she contested from Chandni Chowk constituency in Delhi, she declared her educational qualification as Bachelor of Arts 1996 Delhi University (School of Correspondence). However, in the affidavit filed for the recently concluded election in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, she stated that she had done Bachelor of Commerce Part-1, School of Open Learning (Correspondence), University of Delhi-1994’’.
Her affidavit while filing the nomination for the Rajya Sabha election in 2011 states B.Com Part-I, School of Correspondence, University of Delhi, 1994.
Attention to the “misrepresentation in the affidavit’’ was first drawn by activist Madhu Kishwar, a Modi fanatic, on 27 May 2014 — the same day when Smriti Irani took charge of her ministry. Kishwar, objecting to the choice of Smriti as HRD minister, claimed that she neither has the qualification nor the background to shoulder such an important ministry, especially at a time when Indian education sector is struggling through difficult times.
Kishwar argued that with no political base or track record, Smriti was inept to head an important ministry like HRD. She suggested that may be a post in MoS was better suited for her as that would train her for more significant roles ahead in her political career.
However, it was Congress who dug the skeletons, in this case the two affidavits, out of the drawers and circulated it.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra, immediately rushed to Irani's defense citing that the differences in the affidavits of 2004 and 2014 could have been a typo. “But it is entirely the prerogative of the prime minister as to whom he wishes to keep in his ministry in what capacity. What we want is a street smart person who can deliver and not a bookworm who cannot deliver. She is not here for her tongue but for her brains," Patra defended.
Even ex-Delhi chief secretary Shailaja Chandra deem that degrees would not make any difference to the performance of a minister. She preserved that Smriti in a natural leader with an ability to project her thoughts and ideas. The former bureaucrat also rubbished all claims that Irani haf nothing in her kitty to offer as experience. "A person who is a Rajya Sabha member for five years has more knowledge than all academia put together. The debate on her is also highly sexist. There are two sets of people -- one set is young and dynamic and the other set is erudite. She can focus on practical issues like skill development," Chandra said.
Lata Vaidyanathan, prinicipal of Modern School, also defended Smriti Irani and advised that the nation respect Modi's choice and the collective decision to appoint her to the post. “There is a huge think tank available who is ready to help her. Smriti should be ready and open to suggestions. Smriti should commit herself to the ministry. It is really incorrect of us to pre-judge her like this. We are discussing about everything else and about her than being concerned about education itself," Vaidyanathan said.
Meanwhile, Ms. Kishwar kept her guns trained on Ms. Irani through tweets. In one tweet, the activist claimed that she had merely echoed what was being whispered within the BJP. She tweeted that her sentiments echoed the great fervour within BJP circles where insiders are saying much harsher things about Irani.
Whether degree is essential to become a minister is something better left to debate and discussion. But, instead of being judgmental, let's give Smriti Irani a chance to prove herself. Assuming that she would fail to be a good minister because of her lack of degree is utterly unfounded. Let's wait and watch rather than make faulty conclusions.
AW: Suchorita Choudhury
