The Rajasthan political crisis moved from the courts to the Governor's residence on Friday, 24 July, as Congress MLAs belonging to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's camp staged a 'dharna' at Raj Bhawan, demanding the convening of an Assembly session.
The MLAs sat on the lawns and raised slogans at the governor's official residence, and showed victory signs earlier when they reached Raj Bhawan, reported ANI.
Meanwhile, a meeting took place between Gehlot and Governor Kalraj Mishra on Friday wherein the issue of having a special Assembly session was raised.
Governor Mishra has reportedly sought legal opinion on calling the session, sources told news channels.
BJP Hits Back
The BJP slammed the Congress over their protest, with party leader GC Kataria saying, "The manner in which you protested at Raj Bhavan and the kind of slogans which were raised, I think no other CM can do something as condemnable as this. Nation and legal experts should look into this that CM is saying that people will do 'gherao' of Raj Bhawan [sic]."
He also urged the Centre to deploy CRPF "so that the sanctity of this Constitutional post is upheld." "Those protesting at Raj Bhawan should be driven out and all legal remedies should be used for it," he was quoted by ANI as saying.
‘Governor Under Pressure’: Gehlot
Earlier, CM Gehlot had said that the Governor seems to be under pressure to not call an Assembly session.
“We want Assembly session to be convened in order to discuss issues including corona and the political situation. We believe that because of certain pressures, the governor is not giving directions to call the session,” he had earlier told the media, reported ANI.
“We want to start the state Assembly session from Monday. Everything will be clear then. I had a telephonic conversation with the Governor and requested him to take a decision on this immediately. Now, we are going to meet him also,” he had added.
Requesting the Governor to not come under any pressure, Gehlot said that his government will not be responsible if the public comes and surrounds the Raj Bhavan.
Rajasthan HC Defers Verdict
The Rajasthan High Court on Friday said that it will defer its verdict on the plea of Sachin Pilot and 18 other rebel Congress MLAs till the Supreme Court's hearing. Deferring its judgment till SC decides on the questions of law, the high court ordered ‘status quo’ in the disqualification case and asked that no action be taken against the Pilot camp.
The judgment comes as a relief to the Pilot camp as the Speaker will not be able to act upon the notice till both the Supreme Court and the High Court give their verdicts. The Supreme Court will hear the case on a day-to-day basis from 27 July, and depending on its verdict, the Rajasthan HC will give its judgment in the matter.
The HC also made the central government a party in the case against the Congress, Prateek Kasliwal, the lawyer of Speaker CP Joshi, told the media. The additional solicitor general (ASG) will represent the Centre in court.
The developments on Friday came after the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed the Rajasthan High Court to pass orders, as scheduled, on the petition filed against the Speaker’s disqualification notice to the rebel MLAs, including former deputy CM Pilot.
(With inputs from ANI.)
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