Centre Imposes President’s Rule in Uttarakhand; Rawat Condemns it

“BJP attacked democracy with money and muscle power,” said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

Harish Rawat, Uttarakhand Chief Minister. (Photo: PTI)

President’s Rule was imposed in Uttarakhand on Sunday afternoon. The Cabinet had recommended the imposition of Central rule in the emergency meeting on Saturday night.

Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and Congress member Harish Rawat said that the ruling party at the Centre is trying to attack democracy with money and muscle power. He said,

The Centre is threatening a small state like Uttarakhand with President’s rule. It is not acceptable in a parliamentary system. There is a procedure for President’s rule, which has emerged following precedence. I appeal to the right-thinking people to condemn attempts by BJP to murder democracy. It is low-level politics.

Calling the recommendation a “threat”, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat had said it would be a murder of democracy and that it is not acceptable in a parliamentary system.

However, former Cheif Minister of Uttarakhand and Congress member Vijay Bahuguna supported the decision.

I welcome the decision to impose President’s rule, fresh elections should be held soon. President’s rule became necessary because CM was not resigning even after losing majority.

Vijay Bahuguna

Rawat rejected the claims that the Centre intervened because of cracks in Congress. He said,

We do not have any internal tussle. It is BJP and RSS which are hobnobbing with the Congress rebels to create the crisis.

Sting Operation

The Chief Minister said Congress will take the attempts to destablise his government to the people of the state.

It will be up to the people of the state to decide whether “stings” and defections will determine the future of the state.

His comment was in response to the sting operation by the BJP showing Rawat’s personal secretary negotiating liquor contracts and taking bribe.

He said the ruling party at the Centre is trying to overthrow his four-year-old Congress-led government without people’s mandate.

However, nine Congress MLAs have raised the banner of revolt against Rawat. finance Minister Arun Jaitley also added that

The government of Uttarakhand was murdering provisions of the Constitution everyday. It is perhaps the first and only example in Independent India that a failed bill was passed in the Assembly without proper vote. The government which was in power after 18 March was non-constitutional.

Floor Test

Rawat will face a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly and his position as the head of the state will be decided. He will also meet Governor KK Paul on Monday.

Congress member Shakeel Ahmad said that it was the floor test that made the government nervous, thus, the decision was made on the eve of the floor test.

It was clear that Harish Rawat ji’s government would have survived in floor test which was to take place tomorrow. Modi ji and the government were nervous and hence President’s rule was imposed in the state in haste, by murdering the democracy.

Also read:

• Uttarakhand Crisis: Rebel Cong MLAs’ Lawyers Met Speaker Kunjwal
  
• Cabinet to Meet Again to Decide on President’s Rule in Uttarakhand