Besides the CBI raids against Kejriwal’s officer, the Opposition and the Treasury also locked horns in the Rajya Sabha over the developments in Arunachal Pradesh involving its Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa.
The Upper House witnessed repeated adjournments with Congress members storming into the Well shouting slogans after leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said Rajkhowa’s was behaving like a “dictator” by summoning the State Assembly Session and deciding its agenda without “State Government requesting for the Session.”
“The Governor summoned an Assembly Session without consulting the State Government or the Chief Minister. The Governor himself fixed the agenda and decided that the Assembly Speaker will not preside over the proceedings. This is not within the rights of the Governor,” he said
A belligerent Congress charged that Rajkhowa’s role amounted to “murder of democracy and Constitution.” The Treasury Benches, however, shot back and said the role of a Governor or proceedings of a State Assembly cannot be discussed in the Upper House.
Outside the House, demanding immediate removal of the Arunachal Pradesh Governor, the Congress accused Rajkhowa of acting as Chief Minister, Speaker and State BJP chief. The party said it will fight this attempt to murder democracy and the Constitution tooth and nail be it in the courts, Parliament or on the streets.
leader of House Arun Jaitley said this issue cannot be discussed in Parliament and sought to know if the proceedings of the State Assembly can be taken up in Parliament. He also said if such precedence is started, the State Assemblies will also discuss proceedings of Parliament in their Sessions.
He also quoted rule 238 of the Rajya Sabha and said it does not allow a discussion on the role of a Governor or a State Assembly. Backing his argument, Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said the role of a Governor can only be discussed in the Upper House through a substantive motion. He rejected Azad’s contention saying his motion for suspension of business to discuss Arunachal Pradesh Governor was not a substantive motion.
In the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, Congress has 47 MlAs, BJP 11 and two Independents.