Citing a complete “Constitutional breakdown” in the State, the Centre on Sunday put Uttarakhand under President’s Rule. The Government said it had a number of “very good grounds” to invoke Article 356 and cited two prominent ones which it said happened for the “first time” post-Independence: Evidence of horse-trading on camera and a failed
Financial Bill being declared passed by the Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker.
The Congress termed the move a “murder of democracy” and contemplated challenging the Centre’s decision in the court. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi reacted sharply, telling Prime Minister Narendra Modi bluntly that “don’t let your love of power overrule people’s mandate”.
“Modiji don’t let your love of power overrule ppl’s mandate. @INCIndia is ready-fight elections, seek ppl’s mandate, don’t usurp their right,” Rahul tweeted. Congress general secretary Ambika Soni said Harish Rawat would have proved his majority on Monday on the floor of the House.
In recent times, Uttarakhand is the second State that the Congress has lost, the first being Arunachal Pradesh. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, however, said the crisis in both the States was created by the Congress itself and not the BJP.
The Union Cabinet that had met late night on Saturday recommended invoking Article 356 to President Pranab Mukherjee. The Uttarakhand Assembly has been put under suspended animation.
Speaking to the media shortly after the imposition of the President’s Rule, Jaitley said the Harish Rawat Government was “unconstitutional” and “immoral” since March 18 when it “lost” majority in the Assembly. “There can be no better example of implementation of Article 356 (imposition of President’s Rule)...There was complete breakdown of the Constitution in Uttarakhand,” he said.
Referring to March 18, he said in the 71-member Assembly, 67 members, excluding the Speaker, were present of whom 35 wanted Division of Votes on the Appropriation Bill. The Division of votes was sought in writing in advance by the 35 members who also voted against the Bill, but despite that the Speaker showed the legislation as passed, Jaitley said. “That was the first violation of Constitution,” he pointed out adding “This is for the first time in the history of Independent India that a Bill is shown as passed even when it has been defeated”.
Jaitley said Governor KK Paul too had in his report mentioned that he had “serious doubts” over what happened in the Assembly on March 18.
The Appropriation Bill empowers the Government to draw funds for expenses from April 1 and if it is defeated on the floor of the House, the Government has to resign, Jaitley said, adding the Centre will have to make necessary arrangements to take care of the State expenditure in the next two-three days.
Referring to the sting operation against Rawat, he said, “This is the first time that there is hard evidence about horse-trading by a Chief Minister who has been caught on camera.”
Jaitley also cited other reasons like attempts to “change the composition of the Assembly”, and “allurements” allegedly offered by the Chief Minister. The Governor had repeatedly asked the CM to convene the Assembly in two-three days for floor test but he deliberately prolonged it by insisting that he would do so only on March 28, Jaitley said. “He wanted to use the time period for allurement, horse-trading to change the composition of the House...During each of the nine days, provisions of the Constitution were violated,” he said.
Terming the NDA Government’s decision as “murder of democracy” and “unconstitutional”, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said it demonstrates that the BJP does not believe in democracy.
Congress general secretary Ambika Soni said, “It is not surprising...The real desire of the Government of India is to bring down duly-elected Governments of small States in an undemocratic and unconstitutional manner.”
“At every step, constitutional rules have been broken... The Governor did not send the kind of report (rebel Congress leader Vijay) Bahuguna and BJP wanted... It is so glaring for everyone to see,” she said.
CPI and JD(U) alleged that the Centre’s decision betrays a larger design to “not only make a Congress-free India but Opposition-free India”.
“I believe the design is not just to make a Congress-free India but Opposition-free India. This is how fascist forces aim to capture power. It’s a challenge to all democratic forces,” said CPI national Secretary D Raja.
JD(U) general secretary KC Tyagi said it was an attempt to “sabotage” the constitutional mandate. “This act also shows the BJP’s mindset towards co-operative federalism. The JD(U) also requested President Pranab Mukherjee to reconsider the decision.