New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today downplayed Congress’ accusations of toppling elected governments in states ruled by it and said the Arunachal Pradesh verdict is not a setback for the Centre.
The party said that the political crisis in the state was an outcome of Congress’ internal fight and that it supported the new government only from outside.
"What happened in Arunachal was an outcome of internal fight within Congress. Its government was reduced to minority after a faction within the party rebelled. We only supported the faction's bid for power from the outside. Congress should not blame us for its internal problems. Rahul Gandhi is talking about democracy but he should know that past Congress governments have made a century of the use of Article 356 (of the Constitution) to dismiss state governments," BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.
Party’s national spokesperson Nalin Kohli told reporters in Guwahati that the BJP will decide on the future course of action on Arunachal Pradesh only after a thorough study of the Supreme Court judgement.
"The order has to be studied in detail and whatever structured response will come, it will be thereafter, because there will be various aspects to it," he said on the sidelines of the first conclave of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA).
"Why is the Congress rejoicing so much? Why are they saying as if BJP is not a democratic party? If anyone murdered democracy in this country, then it has always been the Congress. They don't even have a democratically elected leader," he added.
He questioned Congress as to why many of its leaders, MLAs and grassroots workers were leaving the party.
"As of today, the factual position is that Nabam Tuki is a leader without any MLA. Congress party is without any karyakarta and workers. If Tuki is democratic, then why did MLAs leave him?" he asked.
"What happened in Arunachal Pradesh in terms of locking Assembly gate, law and order outside Assembly, if that's the democratic tradition Congress party is proud of, then I'm sure people of Arunachal will give a befitting reply," Kohli said.
"Congress misused the Article 356 many times. Emergency is again an example," he said.
Earlier in the day, Congress present Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, thanking ‘court for explaining to Modi what democracy is’.
"The verdict will deter the Union government from any further misuse of power. Those who had trampled upon constitutional propriety and democratic norms have been defeated," she said.
Congratulating the people of Arunachal Pradesh, she said, "We will continue our fight to strengthen democracy and safeguard the federal structure of our country."
"Thank you Supreme Court for explaining to the Prime Minister what democracy is," Rahul said in a tweet.
In a major setback to the BJP-led Central government, the apex court today quashed "message and direction" issued by the Arunachal Pradesh Governor and restored status quo as on December 15 when Congress' Nabam Tuki was the CM.
A five-judge constitution bench pronounced the verdict on a bunch of petitions dealing with discretionary powers of the governor to summon or advance the assembly session. Stating the Governor's direction on conducting assembly proceedings is unconstitutional, the apex court set aside all steps and decision taken by the legislative assembly pursuant to the Governor's December 9 last year order and said they are unsustainable.
The Congress, which had 47 MLAs seats in the 60-member assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of its lawmakers rebelled. 11 BJP MLAs backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the government. Later, 14 rebel Congress MLAs were disqualified.
