After Tomar controversy, Congress accuses Maharashtra minister of lying about education

Mumbai: Close on the heels of the arrest of former AAP minister Jitender Singh Tomar for allegedly furnishing fake degrees, Opposition Congress in Mumbai on Wednesday accused a BJP minister of cabinet rank in Maharashtra of lying about his education. [caption id=“attachment_2290254” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Maharashtra water supply minister Babanrao Lonikar. Image Courtesy: CNN-IBN[/caption] Water supply minister Babanrao Lonikar had claimed in the election affidavits in 2004 and 2009 that he had done the first year of bachelor in Arts course. However, his 2014 affidavit says he has studied only upto class 5th, it said. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant produced copies of Lonikar’s affidavits on Wednesday. “Lonikar in his affidavits of 2004 and 2009 mentioned his qualification as FYBA from Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) in 1991. However, in 2014 election affidavit, he mentioned he has completed his education till standard 5 from Zilla Parishad School at Loni (Khurd) in Partur Tehsil of Parbhani district in 1973,” he said. Sawant also displayed another document in which Lonikar’s education qualification is stated as ‘BA’. He demanded immediate inquiry and Lonikar’s resignation. “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should take legal action against him. BJP should take the same stand in Maharashtra as in Delhi,” Sawant said. Lonikar, however, said he had not provided false information. He said his “final” qualification was std 5th, which he had mentioned in last year’s election affidavit. “I tried to complete my education and according to the facility available with YCMOU, I got admission in first year of BA in 1991,” Lonikar said. “Unfortunately, due to busy political schedule, I could not pass the examination and hence mentioned std 5th as my final qualification. If possible in future, I will complete my education,” he told reporters. PTI