Smriti Irani hits back after Congress calls her 'serial liar'

NEW DELHI/AMETHI: The Congress on Friday called Smriti Irani a "serial liar" and alleged that she had "falsified records" of her educational qualifications. This evoked a strong reaction from the Union minister, who said she will respond by working harder in Amethi, where she is challenging Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress said Smriti Irani had submitted contradictory affidavits to the Election Commission. The party later gave a memorandum to the EC demanding that she be disqualified from contesting elections.

The Union minister and BJP candidate for Amethi Lok Sabha seat had on Thursday submitted to the Election Commission that she did not complete her graduation from the Delhi University.

In her affidavit, Irani, said she had passed secondary school examination in 1991 and senior secondary school examination in 1993. Smriti Irani had in her 2004 affidavit, claimed that she is a graduate.

Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi launched a stinging attack on Irani. At a press conference, she also sang the title track of the popular soap opera 'Kyuki saas bhi Kabhi bahu thi' by changing the lyrics to "qualification ke roop badalte hain ... (qualification keeps changing)".

The Union minister hit back at the Congress and said she will continue to work hard for Amethi no matter what its leaders say.

"In the past five years, there has not been any attack which has not been made against me by the Congress and its 'chele chapate' (stooges), nor is there any bad word or disrespect which has not been hurled at me," Irani said when asked to comment on Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi's swipe at her qualifications through a spoof on her hit TV serial.

"I have a message for them ... as much as you try, I will work for Amethi against the Congress. No matter what you say, the more you harass me, the harder I'll work," she said, adding that the Congress supporters were targeting her because she was taking on the 'Namdar' (dynast), referring to Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier, Chaturvedi also alleged that Irani was misusing her influence and power as a Union minister.

"Union Minister Smriti Irani, who had been rubbishing Opposition's claim that she is not a graduate, yesterday accepted that she enrolled for an undergraduate course in Delhi University but did not complete it," the Congress leader said.

(With inputs from PTI)