The Union Cabinet on Sunday recommended imposition of President’s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, which is facing political instability. The move invoked sharp criticism from the Congress which called it “murder of democracy.”
Presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet met on Sunday morning and recommended imposition of President’s Rule in the hill State, official sources said.
A political crisis hit Arunachal Pradesh on December 16 last year as 21 rebel Congress MlAs joined hands with 11 MlAs from BJP and two Independents to “impeach” Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as “illegal and unconstitutional” by the Speaker.
Up in arms against Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, 21 rebel Congress MlAs, including 14 disqualified earlier, with the help of BJP and Independent legislators, congregated at a community hall after the State Assembly complex was “sealed” by the local administration, and “impeached” Rebia in an impromptu session chaired by Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok.
27 MlAs in the 60-member Assembly, including the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues, boycotted the proceedings.
A day later, in a bizarre turn of events, the Opposition BJP and rebel Congress MlAs congregated in a local hotel to “vote out” Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and to “elect” a rebel Congress MlA in his place, but the Gauhati High Court intervened to keep in “abeyance” decisions taken at the rebel “session”.
A “no-confidence” motion moved by BJP MlAs and Independent MlAs was “adopted” with Deputy Speaker T Norbu Thongdok, who is also a rebel Congressman, in the Chair. A total of 33 members in the 60-member House, including 20 dissident Congress MlAs, later “elected” another dissident Congressman Kalikho Pul as the new “Chief Minister” of the State. Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and his 26 supporting MlAs boycotted the proceedings terming them “illegal and unconstitutional”.
The Chief Minister later wrote to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking their intervention to “uphold” the Constitution in the face of the “unprecedented murder” of democracy and “bypassing” of a democratically-elected Government by Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa.
Indignant over the Governor’s action in calling a session of the Assembly bypassing the Government, the Congress had paralysed the Rajya Sabha for two days during the Winter Session.
In the High Court, Justice Hrishikesh Roy observed prima facie the Governor’s decision to advance the Assembly Session to December 16, 2015 for taking up the impeachment proceedings against the Speaker was in “violation of Article 174 and 175 of the Constitution”.
The Supreme Court has referred a batch of petitions on the Arunachal Pradesh crisis to a Constitution Bench.
Reacting to the Government decision, the Congress said it will challenge it in court if it gets presidential assent. The Opposition party hit 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 and warned the Government that it will have to pay a “heavy price” for it.
“Modi Government’s decision to impose the 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.
Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the party will move court and alleged that the step shows that Modi is “fountain head” of political intolerance.
“We will challenge it.... This bypassing the matter which is being heard by the Supreme Court.... President is constitutional head and he will apply his mind and will take appropriate decision,” Sibal told reporters.
“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 said.