Seeking to turn the tables on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the State, the Aam Aadmi Party in Goa accused PWD Minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar of possessing a fake Bachelor’s degree.
Chairman of Aam Aadmi Party’s national disciplinary cell, Dinesh Vaghela, said that Dhavalikar has falsely claimed in a sworn affidavit that he has completed his Bachelor in Science in 1979-80.“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,” said Vaghela.
The Minister, has however, rubbished the allegation with legislator lavoo Mamledar calling the allegation “baseless”.
According to the affidavit that Dhavalikar had sworn before the Election Commisison, Dhavalikar has said that he completed B.Sc from South Goa’s Parvatibai Chowgule College (then affiliated to University of Mumbai) in the academic year 1979-80. “We are giving Dhavalikar 24 hours to respond, failing which we will file an FIR with the State police for disclosing wrong information on an affidavit,” Vaghela said.
The fake degree issue led to the AAP to drop a Minister, who was subsequently arrested and denied bail following a similar accusation about possessing a fake degree,now claims they have evidence to suggest that Dhavalikar did not complete his graduation.Dhavalikar could not be contacted despite several attempts. His party MlA lavu Mamledar said that he studied along with Dhavalikar and that the claims were wrong.“He (Dhavalikar) completed his graduation along with me. We both studied in the college at the same time. I do not know for what reason these allegations are being made. The claims are wrong,” he told The Pioneer.
The ruling BJP pushed the ball in the Election Commission’s court. “It is up to the Election Commission (of India) to take action against legislators” in case of filing of incorrect affidavits,” BJP vice-president Wilfred Mesquita said. The Minister, along with its three legislators, is a coalition partner in the State Government along with the Goa Vikas Party.