Putting an end to the speculation and allegations raised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Delhi University confirmed on Tuesday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree is “authentic”.
DU registrar Tarun Das said the university has all relevant records of Modi’s graduation and downplayed mention of 1979 as the year of his passing out when he had actually cleared his BA a year earlier.
Also, he sought to downplay variations in his name. The clarification by the DU registrar came a day after two BJP heavyweights — party president Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley released copies of Modi’s BA and MA degrees while strongly rebutting AAP’s allegations of them being fake.
“We have checked our records and it has been authenticated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree is authentic. He cleared the examination in 1978 and was awarded the degree in 1979,” Das said.
When asked about discrepancies in calculation of marks and the marksheets being “typed ones” while other degrees issued by the university during that period, as alleged by the AAP had handwritten details, Das said, “It is not possible to comment on every variation. I can only confirm that the degree is genuine”.
Asked about discrepancies relating to Modi’s name on his marksheets and degree certificate, the registrar said, “The discrepancies in names in two marksheets exist in university records as well. The university seeks to maintain privacy of any student who is getting enrolled with it. In view of the queries and reports in the media, we would like to state that Narendra Damodardas Modi had qualified for degree of Bachelor of Arts. His enrollment number was CC 594/74 and his examination roll number was 16594,” he said.
Asked about variations in Modi’s names on the marksheets, Das said it is a common error as far as middle names are concerned. “Similar errors are often pointed out by other students as well which are rectified when requested.”
On being asked about the AAP’s allegation as to why he was awarded the degree in 1979 when he graduated in 1978, Das said, “It is difficult to comment on minor errors.” When asked about discrepancies in calculation of marks and the marksheets being “typed ones” while other degrees issued by the university during that period had handwritten details, Das said, “It is not possible to comment on every variation. I can only confirm that the degree is genuine”.
Earlier an AAP delegation led by party leader Ashutosh went to the university seeking details of Modi’s degree but authorities refused to meet them, saying there was no prior appointment. The AAP leaders have been given an appointment for tomorrow. The AAP has rejected DU’s clarification and challenged it to allow its leaders to inspect Modi’s academic details in the university record.
“We have two degrees of different individuals one from 1978 and another from 1980. While in the other degrees all the details including the name, course name and marks are hand-written, it is only Modi’s degree that has been typed.
“The ones forging the degree tried to be smart so that the handwriting doesn’t get caught in forensic tests but they forgot to use the proper format as well,” Ashutosh told reporters.
Another AAP leader Sanjay Singh questioned why the DU had not heeded to the CIC order of making the degree public. “Amit Shah and Arun Jaitley had on Monday made public and said the same can be verified from the university. We came to DU but there is an atmosphere of fear and we were not allowed to meet anyone. If his degree so authentic then why is DU not making it public despite CIC orders. Why records are not being allowed to be inspectedIJ We have to keep some facts before you and our doubts are coming true that the degree has been forged,” said Singh.
