Federalism, Constitution's ethos in Arunachal trampled, will fight tooth and nail: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress today came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the wake of imposition of President's rule in party-ruled Arunachal Pradesh declaring that it would the decision "fight tooth and nail".

"Sun rises in India's east. BJP, however, eclipses Constitution's ethos by imposing Central rule in Arunachal. Federalism trampled by Modiji."

"Republic's founding principles of Democracy & Federalism gutted by Modiji on Republic Day! Will fight Central Rule in Arunachal tooth&nail," party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said in a series of tweets.

His tweets came within hours of President Pranab Mukherjee approving Union Cabinet's recommendation to impose central rule in the northeastern state.

Earlier, another Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said, "This is murder of democracy... The matter is sub-judice and government has acted in haste. It is a clear-cut insult to the highest court of the land. Democracy has been murdered."

He also said that the government in a sensitive state has been disturbed and claimed that "senior (union) ministers were involved in horse trading".

"It is now up to the democratic values, if any, left in this government to take a position and for the judiciary to set things right," he said.

A Congress delegation led by Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad had yesterday called on the President to protest against the Centre's move dubbing it as "coercive federalism".