Stung by the Supreme Court order on Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP on Wednesday said the ruling raised question whether it strengthened democratic spirit or weakened it and went on to describe the judgment as “weird” decision.
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“Resumed my duties as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh in compliance with Supreme Court order”, Tuki tweeted. Coming on the heels of the court intervening against similar tactics in Uttarakhand, this historic judgment will check the Centre’s tendency to abuse governor’s powers and President’s rule to topple opposition state governments.
The august House of Justice has delivered a major blow to the BJP government at the Centre and restored Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh after quashing the President’s rule.
“It’s a great day for Indian democracy as SC upheld constitution”, he said, adding “Judiciary is the only thing which can protect our constitution”.
“Pul was a minister in my government, and as per the Supreme Court’s order, he is still very much part of the Congress family”.
The court said those decision were “violative” of the Constitution.
Congress is run by the fabled Gandhi dynasty that has led the world’s largest democracy for most of its existence but now rules only a handful of India’s 29 states, including in Arunachal Pradesh, home to 1.38 million people. Later, 14 rebel Congress MLAs were disqualified.
Stating the governor’s direction on conducting assembly proceedings is un constitutional, the apex court set aside all steps and decision taken by the legislative assembly pursuant to the governor’s December 9th a year ago order and said they are unsustainable. In Nagaland, Congress MLAs are switching over to the BJP and infighting is brewing in the Congress state unit in Manipur.
Pul, addressing a press conference here, also claimed that he has majority in the assembly and will prove it on the floor of the house when required.
Congress government led by Tuki was dismissed in December, when 21 of the 47 MLAs rebelled against the chief minister, accusing him of running the government in an autocratic manner.
A five-judge Constitution Bench, in a unanimous and unprecedented verdict, quashed all the decisions of Governor JP Rajkhowa that had led to imposition of the President’s Rule in the state, calling his actions as “illegal” and violation of the constitutional provisions.
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The Congress is fully aware that it does not have the numbers to form the government.
