President's Rule in Uttarakhand is a murder of democracy: Congress

CHANDIGARH: In a hard hitting statement AICC Incharge Communications, Randeep Singh Surjewala described the political developments Uttarakhand as a murder of democracy.

"Post-Arunachal, democracy has been murdered in broad day light, Constitution has been negated with defiant impunity and rajdharma has been shred to pieces by Modi government with imposition of President Rule in Uttarakhand.

Surjewala says, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leadership first hatched a conspiracy last night to trample upon Constitution and violate democracy in a meeting of Union Cabinet.

"Despite stiff opposition and adverse opinion, Modi government implemented the sinister conspiracy today by bulldozing democracy and imposing President's Rule. More so, Uttarakhand Assembly has been kept in suspended animation with a view to propagate and perpetuate horse-trading of MLAs with active abetment and conspiracy of BJP leadership."

Blaming BJP for using money power and muscle power in Uttarakhand to destabilize the Congress government, Surjewala said, "BJP then sponsored a petition in the High Court through disgruntled legislators for preventing the Speaker of Assembly from exercising his constitutional powers under anti-defection law. High Court of Uttarakhand negated this conspiracy and dismissed the petition. BJP leadership then resorted to the pettiness of a fake sting operation against Chief Minister, Shri Harish Rawat and Congress government. This fake sting operation also could not cut any ice. Having failed in all conspiracies to convert majority into minority in Uttarakhand, Modi government has resorted to complete abuse of powers by imposing President's Rule. It reflects an unprecedented arrogance of power and position on part of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and BJP President, Shri Amit Shah."

"Naked negation of the Constitutional norms can be simply gauged from the fact that Uttarakhand Governor had asked Congress government to prove its majority on 28th March, 2016 i.e. tomorrow in accordance with established principles of S.R. Bommai's case. What, then, is the justification for imposition of President's Rule 24 hours before the floor test to prove majority? It shows complete lack of respect for the Constitution on part of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi besides establishing that all sinister conspiracies to unseat an elected government have utterly failed. In fact, in S.R. Bommai's case, Hon'ble Supreme Court categorically held that once floor test has been ordered, Governor cannot recommend President's Rule based on his subjective satisfaction.

Miserable losses of BJP in Delhi Assembly, Bihar Assembly and multiple by-elections have established that Modi government cannot come to power through ballot in any State. Consequently, it seeks to bulldoze, coerce and subjugate elected governments of opposition parties through misuse of power and money. People of country are a witness to these blatant and partisan acts of murdering democracy and violating Constitution. We are certain that BJP will again be punished in the upcoming elections in five states. Congress Party will not be deterred, will not be cowed down and will not back track in the face of such conspiracies to topple its governments. We will exercise all our Constitutional rights besides taking the battle to people's court.”

"Having failed in all conspiracies to convert majority into minority in Uttarakhand, Modi government has resorted to complete abuse of powers by imposing President's Rule.

"It reflects an unprecedented arrogance of power and position on part of Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and BJP President, Shri Amit Shah," Surjewala alleged.

He insisted that "naked negation" of the Constitutional norms can be simply gauged from the fact that Uttarakhand Governor had asked Congress government to prove its majority tomorrow in accordance with established principles of S R Bommai's case.

"What, then, is the justification for imposition of President's Rule 24 hours before the floor test to prove majority? It shows complete lack of respect for the Constitution on part of Prime Minister besides establishing that all sinister conspiracies to unseat an elected government have utterly failed.

In fact, in S R Bommai's case, Hon'ble Supreme Court categorically held that once floor test has been ordered, Governor cannot recommend President's Rule based on his subjective satisfaction.", Surjewala said.

He said that "miserable losses "of BJP in Delhi Assembly, Bihar Assembly and multiple by-elections have established that Modi government "cannot come to power through ballot in any State."

"Consequently, it seeks to bulldoze, coerce and subjugate elected governments of opposition parties through misuse of power and money.

"People of country are a witness to these blatant and partisan acts of murdering democracy and violating Constitution.

"We are certain that BJP will again be punished in the five election going States.", he added.