Utt Goenkara has today given Mr. Atanasio Monserrate a deadline till Sunday September 7th to resign as Goa's Education Minister for having falsely filed an affidavit that he had passed his S.S.C knowing well that he had not even completed the 8th standard.
If Mr. Monserartte does not resign or Chief Minister Mr. Digambar Kamat does not sack him, Utt Goenkara would take all steps possible to ensure that action is taken against Mr. Monseratte. Mr. Monseratte would solely be responsible for all the consequences. By filing a false affidavit on his own educational qualifications, Mr. Monseratte had lost all moral authority to continue as a Minister, more so as the Education Minister of Goa. With reference to Mr. Monserarte's statement that he would prove his educational qualifications at the appropriate time, the appropriate time is now and it would end on September 7th. Utt Goenkara has challenged the Education Minister to prove that he had passed S.S.C from St Theresa's High School, Bandra as claimed by him in his sworn affidavit on 12th May 2007. While Utt Goenkara has nothing personal against Mr. Monseratte, it is time to start the cleansing of the degenerated and rotting public life. We agree with Mr. Monseratte that you need no educational qualifications to be a Minister, but the issue is that Mr. Monseratte had lied on Affidavit that he was S.S C when he knew very well that he had not passed the 8th std. It is unacceptable to have a person who has fudged his own educational qualifications to be entrusted with the task of formulating and shaping Goa's educational policy at the risk of jeopardizing the future of thousands of students and hundreds of educationists. Aires Rodrigues Spokesman, Utt Goenkara