After days of political tussle in Uttarakhand, President’s rule has been imposed in the hill state. President Pranab Mukherjee signed the proclamation under Article 356 of the Constitution on Sunday morning.
This comes a day before Chief Minister Harish Rawat was to face floor test in the state Assembly. The Cabinet had recommended the imposition of Central rule in the state last night following an hour-long emergency meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Today, it received the formal nod from President Pranab Mukherjee, sources said.
Calling the crisis in the state “an internal problem of the Congress”, Jaitley, said everything that has happened so far in Uttarakhand is a textbook example of breakdown of governance.
Condemning the BJP for what he called the efforts to “murder democracy”, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat pointed out that there was a “procedure” for the imposition of President’s Rule. The Congress, he said, was ready to go the people to give the BJP a fitting reply.
“They (BJP) attacked democracy with money and muscle power,” Mr Rawat said. “Yesterday, the way a former Chief Minister asked for the removal of the Governor is condemnable. I appeal to right-thinking people to condemn these attempts by the BJP to murder democracy.”
The recommendation for Central rule was made by the Union Cabinet at its emergency meeting on Saturday night which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who cut short his visit to Assam. After the Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley briefed the President on Saturday night, the sources said.
The state Assembly has been kept in suspended animation.
Rebel Congress MLA Subodh Uniyal accused party vice president Rahul Gandhi for the crisis saying he misjudged the situation. “We are open to go with the BJP but we have not decided it yet,” said Uniyal.
Another rebel Congress MLA Harish Rawat also backed Uniyal and blamed the Congress high command for the current situation.
Not naming anyone, senior Congress leader and rebel MLA Vijay Bahunguna said, “The party should introspect why Congress MLAs defected from the party.”
