President’s rule imposed in Arunachal Pradesh
New Delhi
A day after the Union Cabinet’s recommendation, President’s rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday. President Pranab Mukherjee reportedly signed the order last night, at a time senior most Supreme Court judges are hearing petitions linked to the political crisis in the state.
Sources say the government consulted the Attorney General and decided that the situation in the state needed central intervention.
The move comes as a major setback for Congress as the party has been opposing the move. The recommendation drew stinging condemnation from the opposition with Congress alleging democracy was being trampled and that Modi was “fountainhead” of political intolerance while a shocked Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said such a decision in a sensitive border state was “unprecedented” and “unacceptable”.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal expressed “shock” over the Cabinet decision, saying it is “murder” of the country’s Constitution. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also criticised the Centre’s recommendation in tweets.
Arunachal Pradesh was rocked by a political crisis on December 16 last year as 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to ‘impeach’ Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as “illegal and unconstitutional” by the Speaker.
