PM's degree 'authentic': DU Registrar

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BA degree circulated by BJP is "authentic", the Delhi University said today, seeking to put a lid on the swirling row over his educational qualification and termed as "minor error" discrepencies in his marksheets and degree certificate, which the AAP has claimed are forged.
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. He also 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 those 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 AAP 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.

Asked about discrepencies 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 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."
Rejecting DU's clarification, AAP asked why the varsity
was "afraid" of complying with the directions of the Central Information Commission to release the details.
"What are they trying to hide? The weak defence put forth by the university registrar, shrouded in secrecy, further strengthens the fact that the DU is under pressure of the central government to authenticate a forged degree and marksheets," the AAP said in a statement.

The party also released marksheets of two individuals where name, course name and marks are handwritten.
"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 handwritten, 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," senior party leader Ashutosh told reporters.
Another AAP leader Sanjay Singh wondered why the DU had not heeded to the CIC order of making the degree public.

"Amit Shah and Arun Jaitley had yesterday made public (the degree and marksheets) and said the same can be verified with the university. We came to DU but there is an atmosphere of fear and we were not allowed to meet anyone.
"If his degree is so authentic then why is DU not making it public despite CIC orders. Why records are not being allowed to be inspected? We have to keep some facts before you and our doubts are coming true that the degree has been forged," said Singh.
AAP also questioned Jaitley's claim yesterday that Modi used to stay at the ABVP office during the period when he appeared for his BA examination.

"The Indira Gandhi government had clamped Emergency in 1975, which continued for 19 months. By Modi's own admission, he was underground during this period and was living disguised as a Sikh.
"Is it possible that he wrote the exam with his real identity disguised as a Sikh? The office of the ABVP was also sealed during the emergency period. How is it possible that Modi stayed in that sealed office?
"The story being given by the BJP leadership is full of lies," the party statement said.