Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday defended the state education minister and BJP leader Vinod Tawde, who is caught up in a row over his educational qualification.
“This is a non-issue. Tawde has never hidden any fact,” Fadnavis said, when asked about the controversy. After a news-channel reported that Tawde’s BE electronics degree was ‘bogus’, Tawde clarified on Monday that he was a student of Pune’s Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth during 1980 to 1984, and the course was not recognised by the government.
Other than this course, I have studied up to 12th class and I have never hidden that. Even in my poll affidavit, I have mentioned all aspects of my education. Had I mentioned that I did a course from Mumbai University, Pune University or Shivaji university, that would have amounted to cheating. But I did not do such a thing.
– Vinod Tawde, Education Minister
But the opposition Congress today demanded his resignation, making it clear that it would capitalise on the issue during the monsoon session.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, said a complaint should be lodged against the minister and he should be asked to step down. Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam also held ‘Tawde Hatao’ (remove Tawde) agitation at Azad Maidan.
Tawde should resign and he should be arrested, as in the case of Delhi law minister Jitendra Singh Tomar.
– Sanjay Nirupam
(With inputs from PTI)
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