Smriti Irani (file photo)
Yale is trending on Twitter, courtesy Human Resource Development Minister
Smriti Irani's announcement that she holds a degree from the Ivy League university in the US.
The youngest minister in the Narendra Modi government said at the India Today Woman Summit 2014 held in the capital on 9th August 2014 , "In that kitty of mine where people call me 'anpadh' (illiterate) I do have a degree from Yale University as well which I can bring out and show." (
Have a Degree From Yale University: Education Minister Smriti Irani)
The minister is no doubt exasperated by having to defend her academic background ever since she was handed charge of the country's education. In an early controversy, she was found to have made contradictory declarations in her election affidavits, leading to a furore. (
Also read: Smriti Irani Educational Qualification Row: No Official Suspended, Says Delhi University)
"Extraneous circumstances are being created so that I deviate my concentration from my goals," she said at the event on Saturday. The 38-year-old BJP leader said she should be judged from what she delivers as a minister. ('
Judge Me By My Work': Smriti Irani's First Response To Controversy Over Her Education)
Ms Irani did not elaborate on her "Yale degree." The HRD ministry later issued a statement saying, "As an MP Ms Irani was invited to participate in a leadership program at Yale along with MPs from various political parties of India. Her participation and presence did in turn result in her getting a 'certificate' for the said program."
Ms Irani was among 11 MPs who participated in the six-day leadership program at the Yale campus in New Haven, Connecticut, in June last year.
Twitter is abuzz. With puns and witticisms at the cost of the minister and also incredulous posts on how a six-day crash course can be called a degree from Yale.
"And our HRD minister forgot to mention her Yale degree in her affidavit this time. But all her affidavits have had different degrees, sigh," Priyanka Chaturvedi, a Congress spokesperson, tweeted. She also tweeted, "I repeat again. It's NOT about the need of educational qualifications for a minister. It's about her honesty, integrity and truthfulness."
BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the controversy is a "non-issue".
The Yale course for lawmakers was introduced eight years ago, and more than 80 MPs from India have participated in the programme since.