Congress Govt in Uttarakhand Murdered Democracy: Arun Jaitley

Arun Jaitley responded to the Congress’ criticism of the imposition of President’s rule in Uttarakhand.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hit back at the Congress party for its accusations regarding the Central government using its brute power to muscle in on a small state like Uttarakhand.

The President’s rule was imposed on the state just a day before the Harish Rawat-led government was slated to prove their majority on the floor.

In a post on Facebook, he said that as per Article 365, the President’s rule is only imposed when the President is satisfied with the fact there are grounds for believing that the governance of the State cannot be carried on in accordance with the Constitution.

Elaborating on why the President’s rule was imposed, he said a section of the Congress party was dissatisfied with both the Chief Minister and the leadership of the Congress party as a whole.

There are strong facts to suggest that the Appropriation Bill was actually defeated. In any case, all facts surrounding the alleged discussion and passage of the Appropriation Bill clearly indicate its non-passage. There is a cloud and a serious doubt about the Appropriation Bill. There is a complete breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in as much as the Government, which should have resigned on 18 March with the failure of Appropriation Bill, has decided to continue. As of today, there is no Appropriation Bill certified by the Speaker which has received the assent of the Governor.

Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister

A STATE WITHOUT A BUDGETPresident’s Rule has been imposed in the State of Uttarakhand. Article 356 of the Constitution...

Posted by Arun Jaitley on Monday, 28 March 2016

He also accused the Congress government in Uttarakhand of murdering democracy every day since 18 March when the majority was declared to be a minority and vice versa till 27 March when the President’s rule was imposed.

This is an unprecedented case of a Speaker declaring a failed Appropriation Bill as passed and then failing to certify falsehood. This leaves the State without any approved financial expenditure with effect from 1st April 2016. What better evidence do we need of a breakdown of Constitution? The Congress Government of Uttarakhand was murdering democracy every day from the 18th of March till the 27th of March. It is now incumbent upon the Central Government to ensure that steps are taken under Article 357 to authorise expenditure of the State with effect from 1st April 2016.

Arun Jaitley, Union Finance Minister