Opposition parties in Delhi stepped up the offensive on Wednesday against the Kejriwal government even as controversial AAP leader Jitender Singh Tomar resigned and Karwal Nagar MLA Kapil Mishra was named the new Law Minister.

Tomar, who is in police custody, was taken to the institutions where he claimed to have studied, to gather evidence.

The Congress attacked both the BJP and the AAP over the issue. Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee head Ajay Maken asked why Union HRD Minister Smriti Irani — accused of the same offence as Tomar — is not getting the same treatment. He urged the Centre to take action against Irani as well.

Maken then attacked the AAP government for “lack of responsibility”. “Earlier they quit the government after 49 days, saying that the Jan Lokpal Bill cannot be passed in the Assembly. Now, it’s more than 120 days and the government is silent on the issue,” he said, adding that the issue of Tomar’s fake degrees is being used to divert the public’s attention from the core issues of governance and the promises made by the AAP.

“Eight AAP MLAs are facing court cases. One of the ministers has now been caught as false and fake. Why not all the 67 MLAs of the party be probed?” he asked.

Tomar had sent his resignation to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, which was accepted. RML Awadh University, from where Tomar claimed to have graduated, said it has no record of such a student. Tomar was brought to the college by the police for spot verification.

Congress workers also held a protest march to the Chief Minister’s residence. The march, led by Maken and party leader PC Chacko, was blocked by the police.

The AAP, however, continued to support Tomar. Party spokesperson Ashutosh said he is being treated as a terrorist.

“He was a minister. An FIR was lodged at 3 am and seven IPS officers along with 33 cars reached there; his driver was dragged out and Tomar was bundled out in the car as if he’s a terrorist,” he said.

Agencies report: Delhi police is probing the possibility of an organised racket behind Tomar’s alleged fake degrees. Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi told reporters here today investigators are now trying to ascertain who made the alleged forged documents and whether an organised gang is behind it.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Karan Singh Tanwar today said he has filed a complaint that the educational certificate of AAP MLA Surender Singh is forged.

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