February 26, 2026 03:50 pm (IST)

Make this your homepage

News

India-US trade deal at risk? Trump imposes massive 126% duty on solar imports | ‘My life reflects this reality’: Shooter Tara Shahdeo recalls forced conversion amid Kerala Story 2 row | Modi begins Israel visit to boost defence, tech and strategic ties | Trump claims Pakistan PM told him he prevented 35 million deaths by stopping India-Pakistan conflict | Supreme Court's big move over Bengal SIR! Odisha, Jharkhand judicial officers allowed to complete revision process | ‘Kerala lives in harmony, film’s portrayal wrong’: Kerala High Court raps Kerala Story sequel makers | AI panic hits IT giants: Infosys, TCS, Wipro lead massive market rout as stocks sink to alarming lows | ‘No systemic risk’: Sanjay Malhotra breaks silence on ₹590 crore IDFC First Bank Limited fraud | India urges all nationals to leave Iran 'by available means' as US-Iran tension grows | India shines at BAFTA! All you need to know about Manipuri film Boong that stunned global cinema

Maken questions Smriti Irani's educational qualification

India Blooms News Service | | May 28, 2014, at 05:44 pm

#Ajay Maken # political controversy # education qualification # Smriti Irani # Human Resource Development Minister

New Delhi, May 28 (IBNS) Congress leader Ajay Maken has sparked a political controversy by questioning the education qualification of Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Smriti Irani.

"What a Cabinet of Modi?HRD Minister (Looking after Education) Smriti Irani is not even a graduate!Look at her affidavit at ECI site pg 11!" tweeted Maken.

"Media which went on an overdrive in analysing all UPA ministry formations, should conduct a fair assessment even now," he posted on micro-blogging site Twitter.

While Irani refused to comment on Maken's statement, other Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders lashed out at the Congress leader.

"It is very unfortunate if such things are said about her. Smriti Irani speaks in Hindi and English in Parliament and Mr Modi has kept her qualifications in mind," said Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad at a press briefing.

Reacting to Maken's comment, Minister of State of Textiles Santosh Gangwar questioned Congress president Sonia Gandhi's educational qualification.

"I would like to ask what is Sonia Gandhi's educational qualification," asked Gangwar.

Maken's comment was criticised by even Congress ally National Conference (NC) leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.

"To say that someone needs to be educated to be HRD Min is like saying one needs to be a pilot for Civil Aviation or a miner for Coal Min," Abdullah tweeted.

"That's the problem with 140 letters - take 'educated' in last tweet to mean 'highly qualified' but I'm sure you get what I mean regardless," he posted.

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.

India
International

Related Images

In Images: PM Narendra Modi in Israel Feb 25, 2026, at 11:09 pm

In Images: Abhishek Banerjee, other TMC leaders pay last respect to Mukul Roy Feb 23, 2026, at 05:17 pm

In Images: PM Modi interacts with commuters on new Meerut metro route Feb 23, 2026, at 12:05 am