Raises doubts in peoples’ mind...: Kejriwal after HC ruling on PM Modi’s MA degree

Aam Aadmi Party chief and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. (File photo)

By Poulami Kundu: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the Gujarat High Court’s move to dismiss the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)’s 2016 order directing Gujarat University to provide information on PM Modi’s MA degree has raised doubts in peoples’ minds.

“The Gujarat HC’s order has raised a lot of questions in peoples’ minds. They have now started speculations about the PM’s degrees being fake altogether,” Kejriwal said.

ALSO READ | Don't people have right to know how educated their PM is: Kejriwal after Gujarat HC order

Explaining his motive behind seeking details on PM Modi's educational qualifications, he said, “India is still a developing country and it is natural for some people to not have access to education. However, I asked about PM Modi’s education, as today’s youth want relief from unemployment.”

“We can see that at times PM Modi’s statements distract people from real issues. Once he said planes can lose connection if there are clouds in the sky. It shows that he has very little knowledge of science. He had also disregarded climate change in front of children during an event,” the AAP chief said.

“In some videos, PM Modi has claimed that he just went to a primary school in his village. A Prime Minister needs to take several decisions in a day and hence education is necessary,” he said.

ALSO READ | Narendra Modi degree row: DU college says it has no data of students passing out in 1978

“India’s population has increased but the Centre has shut down 80,000 schools. Education is not being valued in the country, he added.

The Gujarat High Court on Friday quashed the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC)’s 2016 order directing Gujarat University to provide information on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MA degree to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The High Court also imposed a cost of Rs. 25,000 upon Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. He will have to deposit the amount with the Gujarat State Legal Services Authority.

ALSO READ | PM Modi's BA degree authentic, says Delhi University registrar

The court of Justice Biren Vaishnav also refused to grant a stay on the judgment, as requested by Kejriwal's lawyer.

WHAT IS THE CASE?

In April 2016, the then CIC M Sridhar Acharyulu had directed the Delhi University and the Gujarat University to provide information to Arvind Kejriwal on PM Modi's degrees.

The Gujarat High Court later stayed the CIC order after the varsity approached it against that order.

The CIC order came a day after AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal wrote to CIC, saying he had no objection to government records about him being made public and wondered why the commission wanted to "hide" information on PM Modi's educational qualifications. Based on the letter, the CIC directed the Gujarat University to give records of PM Modi's educational qualifications to the Delhi chief minister.

The Gujarat University, however, vehemently objected to the CIC's order saying "irresponsible childish curiosity" of someone cannot become public interest under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.