AAP may approach SC over false election affidavits

The AAP on Monday said it may approach the Supreme Court over elected representatives lying on affidavits, and demanded the arrest of Goa PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar for submitting a false graduation degree to the election authorities.

Addressing a press conference at the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters in Panaji, Dinesh Waghela, member of the AAP national executive and chairman of the party's disciplinary cell, accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of "double standards" while dealing with legislators accused of possessing fake degrees in Delhi and Goa.

Asked if the issue of falsification on election affidavits needed to be extensively probed throughout India, he said: "Our party is planning to approach the Supreme Court in this matter. It is still not decided, but we are working on the possibility whether the Supreme Court can intervene in this."

The AAP's former law minister in Delhi Jitender Singh Tomar has been accused of possessing a fake degree, while the AAP in Goa has accused Dhavalikar of falsely stating that he was a graduate in his poll affidavit.

Dhavalikar belongs to the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party, a member of the ruling alliance in the state.

Waghela said the BJP was adopting double standards while dealing with Dhavalikar and Tomar, who has been formally arrested by Delhi Police which reports to the union home ministry.

"It is a simple thing. Suspend and arrest the minister (Dhavalikar) and start the investigation. What is the problem? You cannot have double standards. You should have one standard," the AAP leader said.