Smriti Irani went to Yale University for leadership programme, clarifies HRD Ministry
Irani was part of a group of Indian MPs which underwent a crash course at the Yale University
New Delhi: The Human Resources Development Ministry on Monday clarified minister Smriti Irani's statement about her 'degree' from Yale University.
"As an MP Mrs Irani was invited to participate in a leadership program at Yale along with MPs from various political parties of India. Her participation and presence did result in her getting a 'certificate' for the said programme," the HRD Ministry said.
She was part of a group of Indian MPs which underwent a crash course at the Yale University, during which the elections in India, the prospects for Afghanistan and Pakistan after the US military withdrawal in 2014, the implications of political and economic transitions in China dominated.
Read: I have a degree from Yale University, says HRD minister Smriti Irani
The 11 Indian MPs came to the Yale University campus in New Haven, Connecticut on June 19 last year to complete a six-day leadership program with Yale faculty.
The 2013 participants were drawn from five different national and regional political parties in India, and included Ms Irani, who was BJP vice president at that time, and her TD counterpart C. Ramesh.
In addition to BJP and TD, there were also representatives from the Congress, Trinamul and Shiv Sena. In the academic program, the delegation participated in discussions with Yale faculty on nuclear non-proliferation; the democracy movement in the Arab world; women’s empowerment.