SMRITI IRANI JOINS SWARAJ AND RAJE IN THE DOCK

NEW DELHI: It never rains but pours, goes the old adage. And the BJP certainly finds itself in the midst of a seemingly endless storm of corruption and intrigue.

Yet another Union Minister---this time Smriti Irani---is back in the dock on the false degree issue with a Delhi court taking cognizance of the complaint filed against her for giving ‘false information’ to the Election Commission about her educational qualifications.

This controversy regarding the Human Resource Development Minister’s claim to being a graduate had just about subsided but has been resurrected with the complaint and the court’s decision.

This comes on the heels of a fresh attack on the BJP government by its Maharashtra ally, the Shiv Sena, that has come out in strong support of the Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria for his connection with the former IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi.“Any aspersions cast on Mr. Maria’s integrity will be like a storm in a teacup. When the BJP can loudly back Swaraj and Raje in the face of the opposition’s clamour for their resignations, why can’t it support a brave officer like Mr. Maria.” the Shiv Sena mouthpiece said.

The Saamna editorial, clearly designed to embarrass the BJP, feeds into the volley of criticism that the BJP has been facing for ten days now because of the connections between Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje with Lalit Modi. The BJP, left with the possibility of a split and increasing dissent, decided to back the two leaders despite the flak from both within and outside the party.

Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain has fixed August 28 for pre-summoning evidence in the case where a prima facie offence under 125 A of Representation of People Act, 1951 is made out against Irani.

The complainant, a freelance writer Ahmer Khan, has reiterated that in three affidavits filed before the Election Commission for both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha elections, Irani had submitted differing details about her educational qualifications.

Senior advocate K K Manan had stated in the court that Irani in her affidavit for April 2004 Lok Sabha polls said that she completed her BA in 1996 from Delhi University (school of correspondence). In another affidavit for contesting the Rajya Sabha election from Gujarat, she stated that her highest educational qualification was B.Com part I from the School of Correspondence, DU.

The complaint also alleges that in the affidavit filed for nomination of April 16, 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Irani said she had completed Bachelor of Commerce Part-I from School of Open Learning, DU.

“It is evident from the contents of the affidavits filed by Irani that at best only one of the depositions by her on oath in respect of her educational qualifications is correct,” the complaint alleged.

The complainant also said that apart from this, the affidavits also “appear to contain false/discrepant statements in respect of immovable properties owned by her and other details set out by her.”

“The aforesaid facts and circumstances reveal commission of offences by accused under section 125A of Representation of People Act, 1951, besides any other offences that may attract other penal provisions as an outcome of an additional investigation,” the petition stated.

"Yes, the court has found plea maintainable, but only to the extent that complainant must show proof on the day of hearing," Irani's counsel said.

Irani had earlier broken her silence on the issue by claiming she had a degree from Yale University. This later turned out to be a certificate received by a delegation attending a six day course at this University.

Meanwhile, the BJP has held on to its ‘no action’ policy for Swaraj and Raje. Minister Swaraj intervened with the British authorities to help Lalit Modi get his travel documents. Raje submitted a statement in support for the same, while maintaining that this should not find its way to the Indian authorities, the then UPA government. The BJP after a slight delay insofar as the Rajasthan chief minister was concerned decided to support her, more so after it became clear that any move to remove her at this stage could trigger dissent in the party.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who is currently in the US told PTI that the government will go strictly by the rule book,whatever that means. He indicated, however, that there would be no change in the decision with, "The government has done no wrong, there is no question of going on the backfoot."

Lalit Modi is using his Page on the Internet and Tweets to defend himself and attack all those questioning him. His targets lie in both the BJP and the Congress, the former feeling the heat most.

The Opposition is meanwhile preparing to take on the government on this issue during the monsoon session of Parliament in late July. This session will lead into the crucial elections for the Bihar Assembly.