Queen of Controversy: 11 Times Smriti Irani Hogged Headlines

Jumping from one controversy to the next, the new ministry might provide Irani with a necessary respite.

Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani. (Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Smriti Irani)

The change of office for the now ex-Minister of Human Resource Development–Smriti Irani could have been long due, given her reputation as the poster-child for controversy in the Parliament.

Here’s a quick reminder of all the controversies she had landed herself into during her term as the HRD minister:

1. Educational Certificates

Perhaps the biggest controversy to mar her reputation as the HRD minister was the controversy regarding the legitimacy of her own educational qualifications.

In the affidavit filed by Irani during the 2004 Lok Sabha Elections, she supposedly finished her BA in 1996 from the University of Delhi.

Another affidavit filed by her for the 2011 Rajya Sabha poll stated that she enrolled for B Com (H) in 1993-94 and an enrolment-cum-admission form was found for BA (H) Political Science in 2013-14.

Also read: Smriti Irani’s 1996 BA Documents yet to Be Found: DU to Court

2. Rohith Vemula’s Suicide

The suicide of Dalit PhD scholar from the University of Hyderabad–Rohith Vemula, sparked a national debate about the oppression Dalits face in society and institutions even in the 21st century.

In an attempt at damage control that backfired, Irani dismissed the issue of Dalit vs non-Dalit in the case of Vemula’s suicide.

Dalit PhD scholar Rohith Vemula. (Photo: Twitter)

The suspension of the students prior to Vemula’s death, Irani claimed, was done by the executive council of the varsity which had members appointed by the Congress.

Her claims were later falsified when it was found that the Vice Chancellor, Appa Rao who had headed the committee, was appointed by Irani’s ministry.

Also read: 4 Times Smriti Irani Misled the Parliament on Rohith Vemula

3. JNU “Anti-National” Crisis

If Irani’s handling of Rohit Vemula’s suicide wasn’t a controversy big enough for the MHRD, the government’s crackdown on JNU, following an event on Afzal Guru’s death anniversary where “anti-national” slogans were allegedly raised, pitted a big section of society against Irani and her government.

President of JNU Students Union, Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested and kept in police custody along with two others. Smriti Irani took to defending the actions of the central government criticizing the “actions of the seditious and anti-nationals.”

Attack on Mother India will not be tolerated.

Smriti Irani

Also read: JNU Videos Doctored: Smriti Irani’s Close Aide in the Eye of Storm

4. Sanskrit at IIT ‘For Knowledge on Science and Technology’

One of the initial decisions the minister had taken after being appointed as the HRD Minister was to make Sanskrit a compulsory subject in IITs “as it contains within its literature the knowledge of science and technology”.

She even set up a committee to promote the language in IITs.

It’s Samskrit, not Sanskrit! (Photo: iStockphoto)

5. Sanskrit Over German in Kendriya Vidyalaya

Studying foreign languages is a popular choice for a third language in many Indian schools. In 2014, Irani said that Sanskrit would be taught to students instead of German in Kendriya Vidyalayas.

A year later, after a meeting between Prime Minister Modi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, it was decided that German would continue to be taught in schools.

6. Flag in All National Varsities

Indian flag. (Photo: iStock) 

Smriti Irani floated the idea of having the tricolour hoisted in 207 ft long masts in all national varsities after the JNU sedition row.

This did not sit well with many, who tried to rationalise better ways of directing the funds. While others simply asked why such a large flag needs to be erected which would bring with it a huge cost of maintenance.

7. Ban of Periyar Group in IIT Madras

In 2015, before the JNU row, the HRD Minister called for a ban on the Ambedkar Periyar Students’ Group in IIT Madras, following complaints that they were inciting hate against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Opposition came to the students’ defence, saying the government was “stifling” voices of dissent against the PM and the government, following which the ban was removed.

IIT-Madras. (Photo: PTI)

8. Delhi University FYUP Fiasco

After the infamous FYUP was launched in the University of Delhi, it was rolled back within a year of Irani taking change of the ministry.

While many hailed it as a welcome move away from an unplanned academic path, others criticised Irani for overstepping and overruling the decision of an autonomous body.

9. Shuddh Vegetarian Canteens at IITs

While it was not implemented, the HRD Minister floated the idea of IITs having separate canteens for vegetarians so they do not digress from the Indian “value system”.

10. Run-in with IIT Mumbai’s Anil Kakodkar

Anil Kakodkar, nuclear scientist, resigned as the chairperson of IIT-Mumbai last year, as he alleged that the HRD Ministry had been intervening in the working of the institution in the selection of three IIT directors.

Irani had also allegedly questioned Kakodkar, who was part of the selection committee, about interviewing candidates other than the shortlisted ones, to which Kakodkar responded saying it was the committee’s discretion.

11. Irani vs IIM

The various Indian Institutes of Management in the country took up issues with Irani’s ministry, as they complained of the moves made to include provisions in the IIM bill, which would could concentrate powers in the hands of the ministry.

After much controversy and deliberation, the ministry decided to delete the clauses.