President's rule temporary, Assembly can be revived after Governor's report: M Venkaiah Naidu

NEW DELHI: Imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand is a temporary measure and the Assembly can be revived on the basis of the Governor's report, Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu today said, a day after the high court quashed imposition of central rule in the state.

He said the central government is very clear that there was a constitutional breakdown in Uttarakhand because the Appropriation Bill was not passed in the Assembly.

"We feel there was no other way than (use of Article) 356 (of the Constitution). The Assembly was not dissolved. Because there was a constitutional breakdown, temporarily President's rule was imposed and anytime the Assembly can be revived.

"That is up to the Governor's report and also the situation there. As far as we are concerned, we always respect the rule of law. We respect the Constitution," Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Naidu said.

His comments came a day after the Uttarakhand High Court quashed the proclamation of President's rule in the state and revived the Congress government headed by Harish Rawat, who has been asked to prove his majority in the Assembly on April 29.

Naidu said that on the one hand the then government said the Appropriation Bill was passed through a voice vote and on the other, the Speaker disqualified some MLAs saying they opposed the government.

"How can these two things go together? There is a confusion and contradiction which has to be cleared," he said.

The decision to recommend President's rule was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs last month following questions over the status of the Appropriation Bill which was declared as passed by the Speaker in the Assembly under controversial circumstances.