OTTAWA: Markham MP Jag Bhaunda says he quit the Liberal caucus to take the heat off Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
I took the fall, Bhaduria said at a rambling news conference recently.
The reason to withdraw from the caucus was very simply (that) some out laddish accusations were made, Now , either the Prime Minister should take the blame, or Jag Bhaduria should take the blame. Bhaduria resigned Jan.27 after Liberal officials challenged him on academic qualifications he had claimed. The move came just days after he apologized in the House of Commons for threatening letters he wrote to Toronto Board of Education officials in 1989.
Bhaunda, 54, resigned over allegations he had misled the party over his academic credentials
Bhaduria listed three degrees on his resume, including an LLB (INT).
Bhaduria, who studied law at the University of London for two years, but did not complete his degree there, said the INT meant intermediate, not international. Since the threat was made, accusations about my qualifications were reported in the media, the MP for Markham-Whit church Stouffville told the Commons. The media went beyond making simple accusations. They carried on a campaign of character assassination.
I Categorically refute all accusations Of lying, exaggerating, or Misrepresenting any of my academic credentials, he said, punctuating his statement by naming and Waving Each of five degrees and diplomas he has Bhaduria said he doesn’t believe Reform was behind his downfall.
He told reporters it was made Clear to him he was a political liability, and it was in the best interests of the party to resign.
Both Chretien and Solicitor General Herb Gray refused to comment, saying Bhaduria was no longer a member of the party.
Nunziata said if a parliamentary committee cleared Bhaduria he would support him rejoining the Liberal caucus.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 25, 1994
