Jailed Manish Sisodia writes letter, questioning Modi’s educational qualifications

Manish Sisodia, a jailed former deputy chief minister, has written an open letter from Delhi’s Tihar prison, questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualifications while emphasising the importance of having an educated person occupy the country’s top elected post.

This is the latest in a string of attacks on Modi by Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders over his educational background.

Even as the Gujarat high court last week overturned a 2016 order of the central information commissioner (CIC) requesting information be provided to AAP leader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal about Modi’s university degrees under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the party has stepped up its campaign.

The Gujarat University’s appeal against the CIC’s order was allowed, and Kejriwal was fined 25,000. The court’s decision came after the AAP ramped up its poster campaign against Modi. On Thursday, posters asking whether the country needed an educated Prime Minister were displayed in various parts of Delhi.

The AAP launched the “Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao” campaign last month. The AAP and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been at odds over administrative control of the national capital.

Tensions between the two parties rose in February after Sisodia was arrested in connection with alleged irregularities in the now-cancelled 2021-22 exercise policy.