JOIN USCentre recommends Prez rule in Arunachal
The Centre on Sunday recommended imposition of the President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh which has been facing a huge political crisis since the ruling Congress MLAs switched sides and tried to form the government with the Opposition BJP.
The Cabinet also recommended that the state Assembly be kept under suspended animation. The decision to recommend imposition of President’s rule was taken by the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, official sources said.
The Congress reacted sharply soon after the news about Cabinet’s decision came, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of making efforts to “destablize a state bordering China.” Protesting the Centre’s decision, it also threatened to challenge it in court if it gets the President’s assent.
“The party will decisively fight undermining of elected mandate by autocratic attempts of BJP government,” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said.
The Congress also expressed confidence in getting the government’s recommendation for the President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh defeated in Parliament when it comes for its passage in the Rajya Sabha.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came in support of the Congress on the issue with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressing shock at the Cabinet’s recommendation and tweeted describing the move as murder of the Constitution.
“I am afraid it’s a very unfortunate political decision that the government has taken. It has taken such a step knowing well the decision on the President's rule cannot get approval of Parliament because it’s politically motivated and they (NDA) do not have majority in the Rajya Sabha,” senior Congress leader and former Union minister Kapil Sibal told reporters here.
When asked if the party would eventually challenge the government’s decision on the issue in the court, Sibal said replied in affirmative.
“We will challenge it. This is an act of political intolerance by the government which talks of cooperative federalism. They (BJP) are trying to destabilize a state bordering China,” he said. Sibal, however, suggested that the Congress will wait for President Pranab Mukherjee’s decision on the government’s recommendation.