Social media flooded by Smriti Irani's Yale University jokes

New Delhi: The micro blogging site Twitter is buzzing with tweets mocking Smriti Irani's recent claim that she holds a degree from Yale University, in United States. The trend got viral when HRD ministry clarified that she holds a certificate from the University and not a degree. Smriti Irani later defended the statement saying it was “misconstrued” and that she was unable to control the buzz on social media. "Unfortunate that the statement regarding my participation in a leadership programme and certificate thereafter was misconstrued," she tweeted on Monday.The youngest minister in the Modi's cabinet has had to defend her academic background ever since she took over as HRD Minister, especially reports emerged of her contradictory declarations in her election affidavits in 2004 and 2014. The BJP leader said she should be judged from what she delivers as a minister.During an event on Saturday, Smriti Irani gave way to controversy when she piped, "In that kitty of mine where people call me 'anpadh' (illiterate) I do have a degree from Yale University as well which I can bring out and show how Yale celebrated my leadership capacities."An official spokesperson of her ministry clarified on Monday night that Irani got a "certificate" for her participation in a Yale University program.The 38-year-old was among 11 MPs who participated in a six-day leadership programme at the Yale campus in New Haven, Connecticut, in June last year. The course was introduced eight years ago, and more than 80 MPs from India have participated since.A clarification has given Irani no respite from the twitter storm after she described her certificate as a "degree".Here are some interesting tweets floating on Smriti Irani's Yale university claim:“Smriti Irani presses F1 on her keyboard. Writes 'F1 Driver' in her bio”“Congratulations to Smriti Irani on graduating from Yale in the exact same amount of time it took Me to create the world.”“YoSmritiSoCertified that she'll keep Delhi warm with her increasing degrees this winter! :P”“Now @chetan_bhagat is forced to write another book title " Half Degree"”“Travel agents very happy, now will arrange for "DEGREE TOUR" to Yale ..”“Smriti Irani to start a new mobile app for getting various degrees from any university instantly through mobile.”“#Yale celebrated my leadership capabilities”: Smriti Irani. But madam, the world is at Sharda University no? :P”“Okay so if I enroll myself at Yale tomorrow by next week this time I shall have a degree. HOW BLOODY COOL IS THAT?!”“5th to 18th is holidays, take 2 more days of break & get yourself a Yale degree”“smriti maam is going to Yale on 3 weeks tour.. it s a combo pack-- Degree+post grad+ Phd:"@UmaSinghal1: Yale Degree in six days that too in India from Smriti Irani Institute of Fekology without any expense”“Searched #Yale at Google. First result Irani's picture. I so want to kill my career councillor.“Modi Cabinet hit by a Yale storm”“A post from "God" retweeted several times said, "Congratulations to Smriti Irani on Graduating from Yale in the exact same amount of time it took Me to Create the World."“Jennifer Aniston did her degree from Botox University”“@chetan_bhagat writing a book on @smritiirani -> 4 degrees : The Story of My Education”“100% FDI in Smriti Irani's degree!”“I say Bharat Ratna for Smriti Irani. Getting a degree from Yale in 6 days is no mean feat!”“Amit Shah did his graduation from Bail University.”“During 'Acche Din' you will get degree in days not to wait for years”“When Alia Bhatt can study in IIM Ahmedabad then why Smriti Irani can't get Yale degree in just 6 days”