The Delhi University on Tuesday, seeking to end the controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s educational qualifications, said that his B.A. degree circulated by the BJP is “authentic” and termed the discrepancies in his marksheets and degree certificate as a “minor error.”

The Aam Aadmi Party, however, criticised the university response as “weak” and an attempt “shrouded in secrecy” under pressure from the Central government to authenticate a forged degree.

Delhi University registrar Tarun Das said the varsity has all the relevant records related to Mr Modi’s graduation. “We have checked our records and it has been authenticated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s degree is genuine. He cleared the examination in 1978 and was awarded the degree in 1979,” he said hours after an AAP delegation visited the university, seeking details of the degree amid heavy police deployment on the campus.

“The discrepancies in names in two marksheets exist in university records as well,” when he was questioned about discrepancies alleged by the AAP in Mr Modi’s marksheets and degree certificate. “The university seeks to maintain privacy of any student who is getting enrolled with it. In view of the queries and reports in the media, we would like to state that Narendra Damodardas Modi had qualified for degree of Bachelors in Arts. His enrolment number was CC 594/74 and his examination roll number was 16594,” Mr Das said.

Asked about variations in Mr Modi’s name, Mr Das said it is a common error as far as middle names are concerned. “Similar errors are often pointed out by other students as well which are rectified when requested.” Mr Das added it was difficult to comment on “minor errors” on the AAP’s allegations that Mr Modi was awarded the degree in 1979, while he graduated in 1978.

He also downplayed the AAP allegations of discrepancies in the calculation of marks and Mr Modi’s marksheets being “typed out,” while the degrees issued during the period by the university were hand-written.

The AAP delegation, led by party leader Ashutosh, visited the university to check Mr Modi’s graduation degree. The authorities asked the AAP leaders to return on Wednesday afternoon as they did not have a prior appointment with vice-chancellor Yogesh K. Tyagi.

“We have two degrees of different individuals one from 1978 and another from 1980. While in the other degrees all the details, including the name, course name and marks are hand-written, it is only Mr Modi’s degree that has been typed,” Ashutosh told reporters.