He was asked whether the party will challenge in court the decision taken by the government on imposition of President’s rule in Congress-ruled Arunachal.
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Congress had argued that there is no provision either under the Constitution or Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business (“Conduct of Business Rules”), which empowers the Governor to advance (summon) the session of the State Assembly without consulting the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers. “It shows scant regard of Supreme Court by Modi government, particularly when the entire issue of BJP engineered coercive defections is being heard by a Constitution Bench”, he said. “Whatever crisis is there it is his (Governor’s) creation”, Tuki said, adding he enjoyed full support from all the cabinet ministers.
“With only a day left for Republic Day celebrations, such a decision will dampen the democratic spirit of the state’s people who are zealously guarding the border with China”, Mr Tuki said.
Later, a total of 33 members in the 60-member house, including 20 dissident Congress MLAs, “elected” another dissident Congressman Kalikho Pul as the new “chief minister” of the state.
The Congress courted into trouble after as many as 21 out of its 47 MLAs rebelled.
Rebia was removed as speaker by 14 rebel Congress legislators backed by BJP lawmakers on December 16 in an assembly session held in a community hall in Itanagar that was presided over by the deputy speaker.
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The Congress has been alleging that the Modi government is trying to oust the party in Arunachal Pradesh through Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa and Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs. Subsequently this month, the Supreme Court had ruled that no Assembly session could be convened in Arunachal Pradesh till January 18.
