‘Judge me by my work,’ Smriti Irani responds to criticism over her educational qualifications

New Delhi: Facing heat over her lacking educational credentials as a Human Resource Development (HRD) minister, Smriti Irani has responded saying "I humbly request people of India to judge me by my work." Irani was under constant attack from former Union Minister Ajay Maken from Congress who mocked that that the BJP’s HRD minister is not even a graduate. Congress leader Ajay Maken had tweeted: "What a Cabinet of Modi? HRD Minister (Looking after Education) Smriti Irani is not even a graduate! Look at her affidavit at ECI site pg 11". Earlier social activist and academician Madhu Kishwar posted a comment on a social networking site saying “Smriti Irani merely class 12th pass. Went to become fashion model on to TV serial bahu. Is this qualification enough for India's Education Minister? Don't mind if Irani made Deputy PM in recognition of her exceptional talent but to lead India out of current educational mess, we need a different type.Irani claims to b B.Com Part 1 from correspondence school. No such degree exists. It means she just took admission & left. Misrepresentation in affidavit.” Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said, "In the 2004 affidavit, she has claimed to be graduate - BA of 1996. In the 2014 affidavit, it is specified that it is only BCom part I and that only means one year and not a full degree. We do not know whether 2014 is a mis-statement or 2004 is a mis-statement, but both cannot be true." However, BJP brass was quick to respond asking what were Sonia Gandhi’s educational qualifications to lead the UPA. This forced the Congress to go into defensive and Congress leader Manish Tiwari asked his party men to resist from attacking political rivals on personal issues.