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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BA degree circulated by BJP is "authentic", the Delhi University said today, seeking to put a lid on the swirling row over his educational qualification and termed as "minor error" discrepencies in his marksheets and degree certificate, which the AAP has claimed are forged.
DU registrar Tarun Das said the university has all relevant records of Modi's graduation and downplayed mention of 1979 as the year of his passing out when he had actually cleared his BA a year earlier. He also sought to downplay variations in his name.
The clarification by the DU registrar came a day after two BJP heavyweights -- party president Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley -- released copies of Modi's BA and MA degrees while strongly rebutting AAP's allegations of those being fake.
"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," Das said.
When asked about discrepancies in calculation of marks and the marksheets being "typed ones" while other degrees issued by the university during that period, as alleged by AAP had handwritten details, Das said, "It is not possible to comment on every variation. I can only confirm that the degree is genuine".
Earlier an AAP delegation led by party leader Ashutosh went to the university seeking details of Modi's degree but authorities refused to meet them, saying there was no prior appointment. The AAP leaders have been given an appointment for tomorrow.
The AAP has rejected DU's clarification and challenged it to allow its leaders to inspect Modi's academic details in the university record.
Asked about discrepencies relating to Modi's name on his marksheets and degree certificate, the registrar 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 Bachelor of Arts.
His enrollment number was CC 594/74 and his examination roll number was 16594," he said.
Asked about variations in Modi's names on the 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 as to why he was awarded the degree in 1979 when he graduated in 1978, Das said "It is difficult to comment on minor errors." .
