Panaji, Jun 19 (TOI): Aam Aadmi Party which is under fire after former Delhi law minister Jitender Singh Tomar was arrested for possessing fake degree certificates has turned its head around and hit back at the BJP-led government in Goa demanding that its coalition partner minister Ramkrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar be sacked for wrongly claiming in his sworn affidavit that he has a BSc degree from Parvatibai Chowgule college (University of Mumbai) in the year 1979-80. They claimed he did not complete his course.

AAP said chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar should dismiss Dhavalikar, who is the state PWD minister, and that an FIR be filed against him for cheating under Sections of the 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, Dhavalikar told TOI that he had completed the full course but had failed only in organic chemistry. He left the issue there and did not pursue because he was already doing well in business since 1978.

Dhavalikar said that the fact 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's letter to the chief minister states, "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."

Naik said, "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.