Asserting that the Centre should be ready to face the music in Parliament over the Supreme Court verdict on Arunachal Pradesh, the Congress has demanded sacking of Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa and an apology from all those involved in the decision to topple the Nabam Tuki Government.
The party has also demanded a probe into a tape-recorded conversation of some BJP leaders and a businessman, handed over as proof to the court, for toppling the Arunachal Government. “We want the Governor to submit his resignation immediately and if he does not do so, we will ask for him to be dismissed both outside and inside Parliament,” senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said.
Sibal also demanded an apology from Union Ministers who were involved in the decision of imposition of President’s Rule in the State. He also demanded that there be a thorough probe into the alleged taped conversations of BJP leaders with a businessman conspiring to topple the Congress Government in the State with the same “alacrity” as one initiated against Harish Rawat in Uttarakhand.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre. “Those who had trampled upon constitutional propriety and democratic norms have been defeated today,” Sonia said in a statement after the Supreme Court quashed all decisions of the Governor that had precipitated the Nabam Tuki Government’s fall in January, holding them “violative” of the Constitution.
AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Supreme Court’s verdict is a “tight slap” on the Narendra Modi Government and a lesson for the Prime Minister to stop “interfering” in States.
Sonia hoped that the judgment, which firmly establishes democratic values enshrined in the Constitution, will deter the Union Government from any further “misuse” of power, even as she reaffirmed Congress’ resolve to continue its fight to strengthen democracy and safeguard the federal structure.
“This judgment, that firmly establishes the democratic values enshrined in our Constitution, will deter the Union Government from any further misuse of power,” she said.
She welcomed the “historic” verdict reinstating the “democratically elected and unconstitutionally removed” Government in Arunachal Pradesh and congratulated the people of the State for it.
Rahul took a dig at Modi by tweeting, “Thank you Supreme Court for explaining to the Prime Minister what democracy is.”
Former Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki welcomed the verdict of the Supreme Court. Tuki, who is presently camping in the national capital, said he has full faith in the judiciary. Tuki said it is “historic” judgment that has protected democracy, and he termed it as a victory of democracy.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who had also got relief from the Supreme Court, lauded the verdict. “My heartfelt gratitude to the Supreme Court for restoring the Congress Government in Arunachal Pradesh. Judiciary has restored faith of people in democracy,” Rawat said in a social media post.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh termed the SC ruling as “biggest-ever” victory of democratically-elected Governments.
Singh, who is facing a disproportionate assets case and had accused the BJP of attempting to topple his Government, said the judiciary prevails and the law of the land is above all conspiracies. “It is a message for those who are trying to topple Congress-ruled States. Judiciary still prevails and ‘law of the land’ is above all conspiracies,” he said on twitter.