Government has outrightly rejected the Congress allegation of toppling its governments in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand by imposing President Rule. <br/><br/>Replying to a short duration discussion on the role of Governor and recent political developments in the two states, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju asserted that the Centre had no role in fall of Congress governments in the two states and it was the result of internal bickering in the opposition party. <br/><br/>He said, after Court verdict the party had to replace the then Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister which was the demand of the digruntled MLAs.<br/><br/>Mr. Rijiju demanded an apology from the Congress for what he called wasting the time of the House by discussing such issues. He reminded the opposition party that it had imposed President's Rule in different states over 100 times. The Minister also rejected the allegations that Governors are working in partisan manner and said the Governors of these states were senior bureaucrats and they have never been part of any political party. <br/><br/>Earlier, Congress members objected to Minister's reply saying that he hails from Arunachal Pradesh and was allegedly involved in toppling the state government, he should not be allowed. <br/><br/>However, Deputy Chairman allowed Mr. Rijiju to speak giving ruling that he is a Minister and government functions' on the principle of joint responsibility. Not satisfied with chair's ruling , the Congress members came to the well and continued sloganeering and later staged a walk out. <br/><br/>Earlier, the Congress charged the NDA government with misusing power to destabilise non-BJP governments in the states. Senior party leader Anand Sharma alleged that the Modi Government is violating Constitutional provisions through governors. He said the BJP leadership is working on plans to destabilise the elected governments, headed by the Congress. <br/><br/>Initiating a Short Duration discussion on the developments in Uttarakhand and Arunchal Pradesh, Mr Sharma said that governors should act on the aid and advice of Council of Ministers as provided in the Constitution. <br/><br/>Intervening in the discussion Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu reminded the Congress how it had misused the office of the governor sacked state governments umpteen number of times. <br/><br/>He said the Congress has no moral right to raise such issues. Mr Naidu said political developments in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh were the result of infighting within the Congress and the Centre has nothing to do with them. He, however, suggested evolving a mechanism to resolve Constitutional deadlocks resulting from the decisions of Speakers of state assemblies.<br/><br/>Prabhat Jha of the BJP referred to the days of emergency in the country when the Constitution was flagrantly violated. Taking a serious exception to the references made by Mr Jha, Congress members strongly protested. Deputy Chairman P J Kurien warned that the Chair may take action against them if they continue to disrupt the proceedings. He said it were the Congress members who wanted a discussion, and now they themselves are blocking it.
News On AIR | August 4, 2016 8:18 PM
Govt rejects Congress allegation of toppling its govts in Arunachal, Uttrakhand