Dehradun/New Delhi: A day after President’s Rule was imposed in Uttarakhand, the Congress party today moved the Nainital High Court challenging the Union Government's decision to impose Central rule in the hilly state.
According to reports, former CM Harish Rawat is likely to meet Governor Krishan Kant Paul today and request him to give a chance to prove majority on the floor of the House.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Speaker, Govind Singh Kunjwal, on Sunday disqualified 9 Congress legislators, who had rebelled against Harish Rawat-led government in the state. The decision to disqualify the nine legislators would reduce the effective strength of the 70-member assembly to 61.
"I have taken a decision to disqualify nine party (Congress) MLAs from the assembly under anti-defection law in view of the petition filed by Uttarakhand Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh," said Kunjwal.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi yesterday slammed the NDA government's decision by telling Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘don’t let your love of power overrule people’s mandate’.
Rawat was to prove majority support for his government, but the Centre, in a dramatic move, dismissed the Congress government and imposed President's rule citing breakdown of governance.
Not amused by the step, Rawat termed it as the 'murder of democracy'. "Modi and Amit Shah wanted to topple my government at all costs. They wanted to remove Harish Rawat from the scene for which they went to the extent of murdering democracy. They even murdered the sentiments of the people of Uttarakhand," he said.
With the move coming weeks after President's rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh, an angry Congress claimed that the BJP had stooped to a new low and would challenge the order in court.
The party accused the BJP-led NDA at the Centre of hatching a conspiracy against Congress ruled states and hinted that the saffron party's next target could be Manipur.
The Congress government, which has 36 MLAs in the 70-member House, faced revolt by at least 9 MLAs led by former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, who are said to have voted against the government in the financial business last week. The BJP has 26 MLAs.
