Party plans nationwide stir to play up political crisis as a challenge to democracy; Gehlot writes to Guv again for Session from July 31
The Congress has taken the Rajasthan crisis as an existential challenge to democracy and decided to hold a countrywide protest on Monday even as Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sent a second proposal to Governor Kalraj Mishra for convening an Assembly session from July 31. The agenda for the session is to discuss the Covid-19 situation in the State, and there is no mention of the floor test in it.
The Rajasthan Governor had turned down the earlier proposal sent by the Chief Minister for holding an Assembly session on the ground that it didn’t cite any reason for convening the House and it was not justified when the State was reeling under a pandemic.
Unlike in the case of Madhya Pradesh where the Congress tamely accepted the demise of the Kamal Nath Government, the party is gearing up for an all-out war against the BJP and the Modi Government against the attempt to destabilise the Gehlot regime in Rajasthan.
Party leaders feel that the Centre has unleashed all the probe agencies and is misusing the office of the Governor as part of the conspiracy to topple the Gehlot Government, and if they didn’t fight it out no Opposition Government will survive in the country.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said democracy in the country will function in accordance with the Constitution and echo the voice of the people, who will reject the BJP’s “conspiracy of deceit and deception”.
He was participating in the Congress’ “SpeakUpForDemocracy” online campaign to expose what it called the designs of the BJP to topple the Gehlot Government and other State Governments run by Opposition parties.
A large number of party leaders participated in the digital campaign.
Hitting out at the Centre, Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said, “While there’s a complete call for Covid measures around the country, we have a Central Government and State Opposition in Rajasthan which has converted it into a 24x7 activity to ensure the downfall of a duly elected Government. This shows their priorities. Is it conceivable that any Governor will refuse or delay the meeting of an Assembly which may have a numbers test?”
Singhvi, who represented Rajasthan Assembly Speaker in the High Court, went on to add, “Suppose the Rajasthan High Court holds in favour of the State Government of Rajasthan or Speaker or Sachin Pilot, will it affect the Governor’s power to call the Assembly under 174? The reference to a minimum of 21 days notice reflects the motivated nature of the Governor’s queries. Innumerable sessions have been called at a week’s or even five days’ notice.”
Sources said the Congress is divided over fighting out a legal battle in the Supreme Court after senior leader Kapil Sibal expressed dismay over the way Rajasthan HC handled the matter related to the Speaker’s power. Sibal even said if the court ignored judicial precedence this way, the lawyers will have to look for other professions.
Sources said some leaders within the Congress are in favour of withdrawing the SLP in the Supreme Court and fight a political battle across the country. The Congress filed a petition in the SC against the Rajasthan HC order restraining the Assembly Speaker from acting on disqualification notice served on the MLAs of the Sachin Pilot camp. The apex court will hear the issue on Monday.
Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken, meanwhile, slammed the Modi Government, said, “It has never happened before that a democratically-elected Government wants to hold an Assembly session but is not being allowed to do so. The is a constitutional crisis and murder of democracy.”
“Instead of fighting the pandemic and the Chinese at the border, the Narendra Modi-led Government is busy fighting the Rajasthan Government.
“The Governor must call for an immediate session to enable the Government to work smoothly,” Maken said.
In Jaipur, Congress national spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the BJP’s conspiracy to kill democracy in broad daylight in Madhya Pradesh and now in Rajasthan has been exposed.
“Is democracy a slave of the Delhi Durbar? Is the majority a puppet in Delhi’s hands? Doesn’t the rule of vote matter? If not, then raise your voice,” he said.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has warned that if Governor Kalraj Mishra didn’t convene the Assembly he would take the protest to Delhi in front of Prime Minister’s residence.