The Congress on Thursday sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah after the Uttarakhand High Court reversed the President’s rule in the hilly State.
“They must realise that power is available only through democracy and not through Article 356,” said Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi, adding that the action by the Modi Government in Uttara-khand was unprecedented.
An elated Congress said this was a perfect example of Modi and Shah role in “trampling” democracy and “murdering” the Constitution. “The verdict is a slap on face of BJP for trying to dislodge an elected Government. The Prime Minister and the BJP president will be well advised to now tender an unconditional apology to the nation and also to people of Uttarakhand for trampling upon democracy, murdering Constitutional norms and subjugating the will of people to their blind quest to dislodge Congress Governments.
We welcome the verdict,” said AICC in-charge Communications Randeep Singh Surjewala.
In a blistering attack over its “misuse” of Article 356 in Uttarakhand, the Congress said never before in the history of Independent India that 356 has been invoked on a Saturday, just 48 hours before the inevitable effect of the disqualification process would have been felt on Monday morning.
“Never in the history of Independent India, the Central Government invoked President’s Rule to stay the order of the Speaker when the floor test was to be held within 10 days”, said Surjewala.
The party also made light of BJP’s claims that the Harish Rawat Government remains in a minority which will be proved on April 29 when it takes the floor test. “If that was the case, why did they not allow the floor test earlier planned on March 28IJ” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi asked.
Singhvi, who represented the Congress in the Uttarakhand High Court as senior advocate, asserted that “those eyeing Himachal Pradesh and Manipur with greedy eyes, avaricious eyes must learn to control their greed.”
He said it was a “blatant intervention through misuse of Art 356” when the Governor had ordered a floor test and the Speaker had started disqualification proceedings.
He brushed aside a question whether President Pranab Mukherjee should resign in the wake of the High Court observation that the President could go horribly wrong.
Singhvi took a jibe at BJP general secretary and pointsman on Uttarakhand Kailash Vijayvargiya who was critical of the High Court judgement. “Those who do not understand the judicial process, should keep mum”, he remarked.
Asked as to what comment he would like to make on legal advisor of the Prime Minister, he said that the High Court judgement was elaborate enough and therefore there was no need to say anything more.