Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Saturday accused the BJP of threatening the Congress and PDF MlAs and urged the Governor to provide security to them. The BJP lashed out at the Congress leader, demanding legal action against Rawat for his “unconstitutional” step of taking charge as CM without a written order from the High Court.
“BJP leaders are building an atmosphere of animosity and bitterness in the State. They are even issuing threats to Congress and PDF MlAs. I have urged the Governor to make security arrangements for them,” Rawat told reporters at Bijapur State Guest House.
The six-member Progressive Democratic Front (PDF), a combination of BSP, UKD and Independent MlAs, was a part of Rawat government and has stood by him during the current political crisis in the State.
Countering BJP leaders’ claims that they had the numbers required for government formation, Rawat said MlAs supporting them should come out openly.
“They should openly state whether they are poaching MlAs or engineering another defection in Congress with money power,” Rawat said.
BJP, however, attacked Rawat for “hurriedly” taking charge as CM and convening two cabinet meetings to take policy decisions even before a written order of the Uttarakhand high Court quashing President’s rule in the state could reach the Centre and the Governor.