The Chief Minister of Goa has released the following statement to the media saying that “A cabinet minister need have educational qualification but have to be elected by the people to the House”. The above statement came on the forefront of the allegation made by AAP (Aam Admi Party) in regards to the fake certificate of Sudin Dhavalikar, giving him the time frame of 24 HRS to produce the genuine certificate or resign from the post, the PWD minister has rubbished the allegations on Friday and produced a certificate which was issued by university registrar, University of Bombay, dated August 30,1978 which states that “Shri Dhawaliker Ramkrishna Madhav passed the B.Sc. (Subsidiary) Examination held by the University of Bombay in the month of April 1978”.
“AAP has not read my certificate properly. I have completed my course in 1978-79. I even represented inter-collegiate tournaments like Cricket and Volleyball,” Said the PWD minister. He said he has cleared BSc and there is valid certificate to prove it. Now somehow this contradicts the earlier statement of Mr. Dhavalikar in which he had said that, he failed in one of the subject which he did not peruse later in due to his business. Although when Goa Prism contacted AAP secretary Mr. Valmiki Naik on this latest development he raised the following queries with documentary evidence.
- In the sworn election affidavit, you have stated that you passed your S.S.C.E. in the year 1975. Can you explain to the people of Goa how exactly you managed to complete B.Sc. in just 3 years after your SSCE? Do you plan to now release an S.S.C.E. certificate that also conflicts with your sworn affidavit?
- Why, if you have a “degree” dated 1978, did you state in your sworn election affidavit that you have completed B.Sc. in 1980?
- How did you locate a “degree” yesterday, even though Friday’s media reports carried your acknowledgement that you did not hold such a degree reportedly because you left the course to attend to your business in 1978?
The AAP has further claimed that they have been disappointed with the Hon. Chief Minister for not taking the cognizance of this serious issue and asking his minster to resign until the allegations are cleared. “They (AAP) have to approach appropriate authority with their grievance and not me,” Said Chief Minister. Now only Mr. Dhavalikar will be able to answer these questions properly, although our correspondent could not manage to get in touch with Sudin Dhavalikar to get his reply on the above.
Meanwhile the BJP legislature did not left behind in this; some of the party MLAs has demanded the removal of PWD portfolio from the MGP legislator, “There was also a demand at the meeting to relieve Dhavalikar of his PWD portfolio,” sources said. Reacting to the incident, Dhavalikar said the entire controversy was started by the Aam Aadmi Party, which had resorted to a very cheap level attack on him. “I had passed B Sc from the Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts and Science, then affiliated to the Bombay University, in the academic year 1979-80,” he said. The PWD Minister maintained that he has never used documents pertaining to his education, including the particular degree. “In fact, I started my own business, while I was completing my education, as the financial condition of my family was precarious,” he added.
He also said that he has not made up his mind yet, as to whether file a defamation case against the AAP or not. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday said that if Aam Aadmi Party had any complaint against Dhavalikar over the issue of “fake” graduation degree then it would have to complain to the Election Commission of India, as the certificate claim was made before it during last assembly elections. Parsekar said that he had not received any complaint so far, adding that he was busy in his constituency on Thursday and with the cabinet meeting on Friday. “Those who have complained could approach the Election Commission of India with their grievance,” Parsekar said adding that Dhavalikar was inducted as a minister as he was a competent legislator who performed well.
It does not seems like this issue is going to end here, claims and counterclaims will continue until there is an intervention from competent authority into this issue. Till then our readers need to wait and watch and of course leave your comments and suggestion on this issue.
News Source: Various Sources
