PM Modi’s BA Degree is ‘Authentic’: Delhi University

DU’s registrar Tarun Das said, “Narendra Modi cleared the examination in 1978 and was awarded the degree in 1979.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo: The Quint)

Downplaying allegations of glaring discrepancies, Delhi University on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bachelors (BA) degree as circulated by BJP is “authentic” and it has all the relevant records relating to his graduation while terming as “minor error” mention of 1979 in his degree when he passed out a year earlier.

The clarification by Delhi University’s registrar Tarun Das came amid the raging controversy over Modi’s educational qualifications with AAP continuing to question genuineness of the BA degree.

Hours after an AAP delegation went to the university seeking details of the degree, Das said,

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.

Asked about certain discrepancies being alleged by AAP in his marksheets and degree certificate, he 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 Bachelors in Arts. His enrolment number was CC 594/74 and his examination roll number number was 16594. 

Asked about variations in Modi’s names in 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. 

On being asked about AAP’s allegation that why he was awarded the degree in 1979 when he graduated in 1978, Das said, “It is difficult to comment on minor errors.” On Monday, BJP president Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had released copies of Modi’s BA and MA degrees in response to AAP’s allegations.

Also Read: Tharoor on Modi’s Degrees and India’s Poor Record-Keeping History

Modis graduation degree (L), awarded by the DU and Post-graduation degree from Gujarat University which were shown by BJP President Amit Shah and Arun Jaitley during a press conference at BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Monday. (Photo : PTI)

The AAP had said the documents were “forged” and had “glaring discrepancies” in them.

When asked about discrepancies in calculation of marks and the marksheets being “typed ones” while other degrees issued by the university during that period had handwritten details, Das said, “it is not possible to comment on every variation. I can only confirm that the degree is genuine”.

An AAP delegation led by Ashutosh visited the university to check records of Modi’s graduation degree. The authorities asked the AAP leaders to come tomorrow as they did not have prior appointment.

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 hand-written, 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.

Ashutosh, AAP

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 and said the same can be verified from the university. We came to DU but there is an atmosphere of fear and we were not allowed to meet anyone. If his degree 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.

Sanjay Singh, AAP