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Fake marksheet row: Shankar Katheria alleges political conspiracy by BSP; Digvijay Singh takes on Union Minister

Written By DNA Web Team | Updated:

Minister of State for HRD Ram Shankar Katheria, who is at the center of a controversy over his marksheet, on Friday alleged that the entire episode was a political conspiracy launched against him by the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Claiming innocence, Katheria said that he was ready for any kind of investigation into the matter. “I am okay with any kind of investigation, I am honest. This is a conspiracy against me by BSP leader Kunwar Chand who earlier got defeated by me,” Katheria told ANI here.

The Minister of State for HRD in his defence said that the Governor, Chief Minister, Education Minister, Commissioner and Agra’s DM had done an investigation, but nothing had been found against him. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rashid Alvi came down heavily on the government following the controversy. “If an HRD minister holds a fake certificate what kind of message does that send out?” he asked.

According to reports, Katheria fudged details of his Bachelor of Arts second year marksheet by changing his 43 marks in Hindi Literature and 42 in English Language to 53 and 52 respectively for a teaching job at the Agra University.

Katheria also stands accused of forging his Master of Arts second year marksheet in the Principles of Literary Writing subject where he allegedly changed his marks from 38 to 72. 

Digvijay Singh takes on Shankar Katheria

Taking a jibe at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh on Friday criticized the BJP-led government at the Centre over the controversy surrounding newly-inducted Minister of State for HRD Ram Shankar Katheria following an allegation that his graduation marksheet was forged.

"First Minister HRD and now MOS HRD has given Fraud Mark Sheet ! On top of it RSS wants to change the Text Books and Indian History !" he wrote on twitter. 

Katheria, who was sworn in as the Minister of State for HRD in the Union Cabinet on Sunday, is reportedly charged with forging his graduation marksheet.

Katheria has, however, strongly denied the charge against him. "I am okay with any kind of investigation, I am honest," he said.

Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani, who took the oath of office in May, was earlier at the center of a controversy over her educational qualification.