Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday night accused ‘media houses’ of self-censorship on the issue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational details, particularly highlighting two channels that he said are not ‘known Modi-channels’.
Kejriwal tweeted, “Some media houses have told their reporters not to touch PM degree issue. Other than known Modi-channels, list includes ABP n NDTV.”
“Mr Aveek Sircar? Busy wid Mamta bashing? Dr Pranoy Roy? Sir, did not expect this from you,” he added.
Some media houses have told their reporters not to touch PM degree issue. Other than known Modi-channels, list includes ABP n NDTV(1/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 6, 2016
Mr Aveek Sircar? Busy wid Mamta bashing? Dr Pranoy Roy? Sir, didn't expect this from u (2/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 6, 2016
Reacting to these tweets, NDTV’s Editorial Director countered the CM’s statement saying that the channel had aired a story on the issue, incorporating views from both the AAP and BJP.
She further asked why the CM’s office did not verify the information before tweeting.
Background
.@ArvindKejriwal This is incorrect,story reported by @sunetrac ,aired last night as well,with AAP & BJP responses.On website too
— sonia singh (@soniandtv) May 6, 2016
.@ArvindKejriwal I wonder who is giving you this wrong information & why your office is not verifying it before tweeting it ?
— sonia singh (@soniandtv) May 6, 2016
PM Modi’s educational degrees have been a controversial issue since he declared in his election affidavit in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sobha elections that he held a Master’s degree from Gujarat University and a Bachelor’s degree from Delhi University.
The AAP has been keeping the issue alive in recent weeks with Kejriwal demanding that the DU Vice Chancellor make the records public.
On Thursday, PTI reported that AAP MLA Jitendra Singh Tomar, who was arrested over a case of allegedly possessing fake degrees, had filed an RTI application seeking a copy of Modi's marksheets among others.
Tomar, who was sacked from the AAP Cabinet, asked why the PM, facing "similar charges", should not be arrested if "everyone is equal before the law". The party also expressed apprehensions that records in DU were "not secure".
"PM being less educated is not an issue. But forging n faking a degree is criminal offence n breach of trust (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted.
In his letter to the VC, he demanded that Modi's degree be put on the varsity's website.
"It is a matter of grave concern since the Gujarat University says that he (Modi) has done his Masters from there. If he has not pursued BA, then how could he secure admission in MA? This gives rise to suspicions that the MA degree is forged,” he wrote.
He also said in the letter, "I urge you to take steps for these documents to be secured. It will be better if these documents are put online.”
Do the people of this country have the right to know the education qualifications of their PM? If there are serious allegations concerning his degree then the truth should emerge," the AAP chief further wrote.
Demanding that action be taken against the PM, Tomar told reporters that police should also "take him to Delhi University and ask him to show the hall in which he appeared for exams."
"Everyone is equal before law. They should also follow a similar procedure the way it was adopted with me," Tomar said.
Meanwhile, Delhi Water Minister Kapil Mishra, who had earlier courted controversy by calling the PM an "ISI agent", alleged that Modi's educational degree and "marriage story" are "fake".