HC order for floor test tremendous setback to Centre, says Harish Rawat

DEHRADUN: Harish Rawat, who had challenged dimissal of his government, today said the High Court order for floor test was a "tremendous setback" to the Centre and expressed confidence that it will deter the Modi government from "destabilising" the Congress-ruled state governments.

"Congress and our government have full respect for the judiciary. We still do not have the full judgement of the High Court but the part of the order available shows that the court holds the Centre's decision wrong," he told reporters.

The ousted Chief Minister noted that Governor KK Paul had ordered floor test in the Assembly to be held on March 28 but against that the Centre had imposed the President's Rule in the state.

"Our fight is not against any person but the powers which are out to demolish the Constitutional institutions. Such powers have received a tremendous setback," Rawat said while attacking the Modi dispensation in the wake of the verdict.

He said Uttarakhand has already suffered a "jolt" and "deep wounds" in the form of defections but other opposition-ruled states will be saved from the Centre's designs.

"After this (court verdict), there will be a stop on attempts to destabilise other opposition ruled state governments," he said.

Rawat, whose government was sacked on Sunday on the grounds of "breakdown of Constitutional machinery", had moved the court yesterday, calling the Centre's decision as "arbitrary" and demanded its quashing.