[dropcap]S[/dropcap]mriti Irani, Union Textiles Minister was relieved by court in a fake degree case, observing that a petition accusing her of faking a college degree has been filed to “needlessly harass her”. This order comes as a big relief for the 40-year-old minister, who was shifted out of the high-profile Human Resource Development Ministry in a cabinet reshuffle a few months ago and was alloted the textile department which was being seen as a demotion. The degree case was filed last year by a man called Ahmer Khan, who accused Smriti Irani of making contradictory statements about her education in affidavits that she filed while contesting different elections. While Ms. Irani had in 2004 said she had a 1996 Bachelor of Arts or BA degree from Delhi University, in later elections, she said her highest educational qualification was B.com, Part 1 (correspondence course) from Delhi University. Ms. Irani has deliberately furnished incorrect details, which is punishable by law. The court had asked the Election Commission and Delhi University to submit details of Ms. Irani’s graduation degree, but they both said it could be traced.
Earlier also, Smriti Irani’s educational qualification had led to arguments on social network. Through that debate people agreed that a non graduate should not hold the important HRD ministry as it is a job of the highly qualified person. To defend Irani, BJP went so aggressive that they cited many examples including ‘Bill Gates’ for being less educated but highly qualified person. I don’t understand why they drag Bill Gates when questioned was about Irani’s qualification? Anyway, they don’t know the fact that all can’t be Bill Gates. BJP’s supporters sometimes or I can say many times talk illogical. Bill Gates became successful due to his hard work and he owns a company. Bill Gates was not a looser, Smriti Irani is failed politician, people disowned her twice, and she lost two elections. This is disrespect to people’s mandate. When people have bestowed a party clear mandate, then why compromise with key position? By saying “achche din”, we certainly do not mean days of good acting but real action on the field. Why even justify her appointment against Sonia Gandhi’s education claims, when nation steered clear of them.
The debate on education is not top priority. If we think on other side of the coin, since she had passed 12th standard, she can have better zeal to do something for the poor and uneducated. Education is certainly important but one should not be criticized or their skills should be under estimated just because of that. Smriti needs to possess that calibre to deal with the portfolios she is awarded so far; question is not just about her qualification but also about the ability. Don’t forget that though Sonia was not a minister in UPA, she was a key person in running the Government including the PM. The question is not about what qualification she possesses. Anyway after lots of criticism, her ministry was changed and when media shifted its focus from Irani, the court verdict was delivered. The same BJP was aggressive against Aam Aadmi Party’s leaders, but when it came to their own leaders they were hell bent on defending their ministers.
Television star-turned Union Minister Smriti Irani’s meteoric rise saw her come under the scanner on her first day in office. Curiously enough, the first salvo was fired by one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most vocal supporters, activist Madhu Kishwar. Drawing attention to Irani’s educational qualifications, Kishwar had tweeted: “Smriti Irani merely Class 12 pass, went to become fashion model on to TV serial bahu [daughter-in-law]. Is this qualification enough for India’s Education Minister?” With criticism about the appointment coming from within, Congress and Aam Aadmi Party’s leaders attacked BJP and Smriti Irani, when controversies piled up she was smoothly shifted to another portfolio and debate ended there. Ms. Irani, however, steered clear of the controversy over her surprise inclusion. In a fleeting interaction with the media after taking charge, she stuck to the Ministry matters. Though, she lost the Lok Sabha election to Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in the Nehru-Gandhi pocket borough of Amethi by over a lakh votes. Now, there is a speculation that she will be a face of BJP in the upcoming UP elections.
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