By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal on Sunday strongly countered allegations regarding his educational qualifications and challenged state Education Minister Dhan Singh Rawat to order an inquiry into his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University.
Facing criticism from various quarters, particularly on social media, Godiyal alleged that a deliberate campaign was being carried out by the ruling BJP to tarnish his image ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled early next year. He claimed that the attacks intensified after an internal survey conducted by the saffron party reportedly indicated that the Congress was gaining ground in the state.
In a video message circulated on social media platforms, Godiyal said he was prepared for any scrutiny regarding his academic records. “I do not want to challenge Dhan Singh Rawat over his PhD degree, which was completed under the supervision of a blind man. But I definitely challenge him, being the state Education Minister, to conduct an inquiry into my BA degree from Garhwal University,” he said.
The Congress leader alleged that false claims were being spread suggesting that all his educational degrees were fake. According to him, the BJP was attempting to divert public attention from growing anti-incumbency sentiments and declining popularity of the state government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.
Referring to the findings of the purported BJP survey, Godiyal claimed that the popularity graph of Dhami had witnessed a decline in recent months. He asserted that the Congress was receiving encouraging feedback from people across the state, especially on issues related to unemployment, inflation and migration from hill districts.
Seeking to project himself as a self-made leader, Godiyal also spoke about his humble background. He said he had struggled financially during his early years and even sold bananas in Mumbai to fund his education and complete his Class 10 examinations.
The remarks have triggered fresh political sparring between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in Uttarakhand, with both parties gearing up for an intense electoral battle in the run-up to the Assembly polls.