Political parties keep coming with the ground-breaking tactics to make sure that they do the maximum damage to their opponents by way of getting them either out of their office or getting them into jail. Now days the new game is to find out who has submitted the fake degrees while contesting for an election. There is attack and counter attacks by all the existing parties on each other. It may be recalled that lately the HRD minister of India Smruti Irani had to face the media over her controversial issue of Degree from YALE University though she did not disclose what degree she has but she said that she was part of a group of Indian MPs which underwent a crash course at the Yale University.
The recent arrest of a AAP minister Jitender Singh Tomar has generated anguish amongst the senior AAP leaders they called it “political vendetta” by the BJP-led Centre. This made them to counter on BJP-led government in Goa by way of demanding the expulsion of a Goa legislator “Sudin Dhavalikar” from the cabinet on the account of his fake degree of BSc from Parvatibai Chowgule college (University of Mumbai) in the year 1979-80 claiming that he did not complete the course. AAP demanded the dismissal of Dhavalikar who is the state PWD minister in Parsekar Cabinet of BJP-led government and that the FIR to be filed against him for cheating under the sections of Indian Penal Code. Dhavalikar is the leader of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) which is part of the BJP-led coalition with three MLAs in the 40-member House.
When contacted by the media Dhavalikar claimed that he had completed the full course but had failed only in organic chemistry. The he left that subject there only and did not peruse any further as he was already engaged in the business since 1978. Dhavalikar remain stiff on his statement that he had completed the full BSc course could be corroborated from any of his old professors.
Briefing the media, AAP Goa secretary Valmiki Naik also challenged Dhavalikar to produce before the public within 24 hours, the BSc degree certificate, which he claims to have in his sworn affidavit and also on his profile on the government website. “If he does not do so, we have planned our future course of action,” Naik said. AAP also wrote a letter to CM which says “Aam Aadmi Party Goa would like to bring to your notice that we have reason to believe that Dhavalikar may not have completed the said course and hence may not possess the degree he has claimed in his sworn affidavit. You are kindly requested to have Ramkrishna Dhavalikar clarify whether he does indeed possess a BSc from University of Mumbai in the year 1979-80, and if yes, to produce the said certificate and put in public domain within 24 hours failing which he should be immediately booked under Indian penal code section 420 and arrested for providing false information on a sworn affidavit.”
Mr. Valmiki Naik has claimed that “The minister has lied on a sworn affidavit. He never received the degree from the University of Mumbai. This is a criminal offence.” Dinesh Vaghela, chairman of AAP’s national disciplinary action committee said that the election commission of India could disqualify him and that the offence of cheating carries a maximum sentence of two years. Vaghela said AAP Goa’s research wing will investigate the credentials of other ministers and politicians and expose them if necessary.
These gives the clear indication that the DEGREE WAR is here to stay and soon the general public who are also the voters will come to know who has passed and who failed in their exams. In fact one way it is good also that we know about the people we have elected are not trying to con us. Their integrity is all that matters to the voters at the end of the day. Let’s wait and what where this new game lead to. Please do leave your most valuable comments and suggestions on this.
Author: Rajesh Ghadge
Source: TNN
