Congress seeks disqualification of Smriti Irani for falsifying degree records
The Congress on Friday called Union Minister and BJP candidate from the Amethi Lok Sabha seat Smriti Irani a “serial liar”, and said that should be disqualified. Irani however retaliated saying she will emerge stronger the more Congress targets her.
“Union Minister Smriti Irani, who had been rubbishing Opposition’s claim that she is not a graduate, has accepted that she enrolled for an undergraduate course in Delhi University but did not complete it,” Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi said at the AICC press conference.
“We have no issue with the fact that Smriti Irani is not a graduate. The issue here is that she has lied repeatedly on oath and to the courts. People of India will see through these lies and give a befitting political reply to a ‘serial liar’!” she said.
“She is also guilty of hiding information in the Delhi University and misusing her influence and power as a Union Minister. Constitutionally, legally and morally, it would be best if she steps down as the Union minister and by publicly accepting these lies,” Chaturvedi added.
In 2004, Irani submitted an affidavit to ECI as Lok Sabha candidate from Chandni Chowk, Delhi, stating that her educational qualification as Bachelor of Arts in 1996 from Delhi University, School of Correspondence, Chaturvedi said.
Irani in 2011 submitted an affidavit to ECI as Rajya Sabha candidate from Gujarat stating her educational qualification as B.Com. Part-I in 1994 from Delhi University, School of Correspondence, she said.
Then in 2014, Irani submitted an affidavit to ECI as Lok Sabha candidate from Amethi, UP, stating that her educational qualification as B.Com.Part-I in 1994 from School of Open Learning, Delhi University.
“In the past five years, there has not been any attack which has not been made against me by the Congress and its ‘chele chapate’ (stooges), nor is there any bad word or disrespect which has not been hurled at me,” Smriti Irani said in her response.
“I have a message for them… As much as you try, I will work for Amethi against the Congress. No matter what you say, the more you harass me, the harder I’ll work,” she said, adding that the Congress supporters were targeting her because she was taking on the ‘Namdar’ (dynast), referring to Rahul Gandhi.
In her affidavit filed on Thursday during her nomination, Irani said she passed secondary school examination in 1991 and senior secondary school examination in 1993.
She has said she did not complete her Bachelor of Commerce (Part-I) — a three-year degree course — from Delhi University’s School of Open Learning in 1994.
In her affidavit filed on Thursday during her nomination, Irani said she passed secondary school examination in 1991 and senior secondary school examination in 1993.
