Arunachal Pradesh row: Sonia meets Prez, protests Governor's action

NEW DELHI: Accusing the Modi government of trying to "oust" the Congress regime in Arunachal Pradesh with a "pre-planned design", Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders on Wednesday met President Pranab Mukherjee and lodged a strong protest against state Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa.

"It is clear that the BJP top leadership in connivance with some dissident Congress MLAs planned to destabilize the democratically-elected Congress Government in Arunachal Pradesh. This is obviously a pre-planned design involving the highest functionaries of the Central Government in this unprincipled enterprise," the Congress chief told reporters at Rashtrapati Bhavan after meeting the President.

The Congress delegation handed over a memorandum to Mukherjee, urging him to preserve the sanctity of the Constitution, the democratic traditions of the country and polity and the rule of law.

It said the President should issue "appropriate directions/advisory" in this regard.

The delegation, led by Sonia Gandhi, included party Vice President Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders AK Antony, Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, its Deputy Leader Anand Sharma and Ahmed Patel.

Alleging that the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh has acted "contrary to" the spirit and scheme of the Constitution, the Congress said," it seems the Governor, at the behest of the Central Government, along with those Congress MLAs enticed to defect to the BJP is using unconstitutional means in seeking to oust the democratically elected Government of the state."

The party alleged that the Governor's actions have created a "constitutional crisis" and constitutional tenets of propriety are being "wantonly disregarded".

Governor Rajkhowa had a few days ago issued orders for convening the three-day Winter Session from December 16 to 18, modifying the earlier order of summoning the House from January 14 to 18.