Now, Maharashtra education minister in 'bogus' degree row

Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde on Monday said the engineering "degree" he obtained from a Pune institute in 1984 is not bogus as claimed by a television news channel.

The minister's clarification came after media reports that his BE Electronics "degree" was fake. "I am a student of Pune's Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth and I am proud of it. I have never hidden the degree I obtained from that university," Tawde told reporters here.

"A bridge course was started at the Vidyapeeth with the objective of imparting practical experience to students along with theoretical knowledge. I took admission to the course in 1980 and passed out in 1984. The course comprised part-time education and part-time internship," Tawde said.

"Students were told while seeking admission that the course is not recognised by the government. I knew it and accepted it," the minister said.

After Manohar Joshi became the Vidyapeeth's chancellor, his rival went to court and the court banned the course, he said. "I have never enrolled as member of the graduates constituency (in state elections). Other than this course, I have studied till 12th class and I have never hidden that. Even in my poll affidavit, I have mentioned all aspects of my education and places where I studied," Tawde said.

"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," Tawde said.

"The Dyaneshwar Vidyapeeth course had the perfect balance of education and (work) experience. Today, everyone favours that concept, which Dnyaneshwar Vidyapeeth implemented in 1980," the minister said.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, has demanded Tawde's resignation over his "fake" degree.

Image: Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde