Arunachal Pradesh President’s Rule: Congress to move court

The Congress on Sunday said it will challenge in court the Cabinet’s recommendation for imposing President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh if it gets presidential assent, it also lashed out at the Narendra Modi government accusing it of “trampling” on democracy.

The “very wrong” step has exposed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “double-speak” on federalism, the party alleged, warning the government that it will pay a “heavy price” for it.

“The Modi government’s decision to impose President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh reflects travesty of Constitutional mandate, subjugation of federalism and trampling of democracy,” AICC communication department chief Randeep Surjewala said “Modiji’s double speak of respect for federalism and states being equal part of ‘Team India’ stands exposed,” he said.

The Congress leader and former Union minister Kapil Sibal said the party will move court and alleged that the step shows that Mr Modi is “fountain head” of political intolerance.

“We will challenge it... This bypassing the matter which is being heard by the SC... President is the Constitutional head, he will apply his mind and will take appropriate decision,” Mr Sibal told reporters.

He was asked whether the party will challenge in court the decision taken by the government on imposition of President’s Rule in Congress-ruled Arunachal.

“The government has taken a very wrong step. There cannot be possibly any wrong step than this. The governor had embarrassed himself and now the government is embarrassing itself. They will pay a heavy price,” he remarked.

The reaction came after Union Cabinet recommended imposition of President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh which is facing political turmoil.

Mr Sibal claimed the government has taken the step apprehending that they are not going to succeed in the SC. “They have taken the step despite knowing well the decision on President’s rule cannot get approval of Parliament as they do not have majority in the Rajya Sabha,” he said.

“This is an act of political intolerance by government which talks of cooperative federalism,” he said and lamented that the Modi dispensation by saying, “They are trying to destabilise a state bordering China,” he alleged.

Mr Surjewala said, “It shows scant regard of the SC by the Modi government, particularly when the entire issue of BJP-engineered coercive defections is being heard by a Constitution Bench.”

“Congress party will decisively fight undermining of elected mandate by autocratic attempts of BJP’s union government,” he said.

Drawing a parallel between the step and the dismissal of the Congress governments in nine states in the 1970s by the then Janata party dispensation, Mr Surjewala asked, “Is the BJP attempting a repeat of 1977 when the Janata Party government had dismissed nine Congress-ruled state governments The Congress party will decisively fight these.”