The BJP hit back at Congress over its leader Ajay Maken’s taunt on Smriti Irani’s qualifications by counter questioning Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s qualifications.
Senior BJP leader and water resources minister Uma Bharti slammed Maken for questioning Smriti Irani’s qualifications by saying whether these leaders questioned Sonia Gandhi’s diploma to lead the UPA.
“What is the educational qualification of Sonia Gandhi that she was heading UPA govt?” Uma Bharti asked on Wednesday.
“Sonia Gandhi should tell her MPs not to make such statements,” Uma Bharti added.
Defending Smriti Irani, BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said,”We want to advise Congress leaders that after country’s people rejected them in Lok Sabha elections, they should now leave their arrogance behind and introspect.”
Congress leader Ajay Maken had tweeted on Tuesday questioning how a 12th pass-out can head the HRD ministry, “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.”
In her affidavit before the Election Commission, Smriti Irani has said that she had completed “Bachelor of Commerce Part-1, School of Open Learning (Correspondence), University of Delhi-1994.”
Slamming Maken’s comments on Tuesday, Law and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “People have seen Smriti Irani in Parliament. They have seen her leadership. The PM has given her the responsibility because of her merit.”
“If a such a comment has come from the Congress then it is very unfortunate and I think the Congress should introspect before giving such comments,” Prasad added.
Maken did not get much support from his party too. Senior Congress leader Manish Tewari said, “Instead of personal attacks we should focus on issues.”
“There is a difference in education, intelligence and literacy. This distinction should be kept in mind. If the government has to be criticised, it should be on issues and not superficiality,” he added.
