Another setback for BJP as SC restores Congress Govt. in Arunachal

New Delhi, July 13 (ANI): In a major setback to the BJP-ruled Centre, the Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed “message and direction” issued by Arunachal Pradesh Governor J.P. Rajkhowa and restored status quo as on December 15 when Congress’ Nabam Tuki was the chief minister. “The SC has quashed all the notifications issued by the Governor on December 9 and has also restored status quo as on December 15 when Tuki was the chief minister,” Vivek Tankha, the lawyer appearing for the Congress Party, told the media. “Pursing which the assembly was convened on July 16 to remove Speaker Wangki Lowang and subsequently on July 17 to pass a no confidence motion,” he added. Tankha said the Governor’s role is also under question now taking note of the manner in which he acted at the behest of the ruling party at the Centre. “We expect the ruling party not only to respect the SC judgment and restore the Congress government forthwith, but also to take appropriate action against the Governor,” said Tankha. Hailing it as a “great day” for the Indian democracy and a “great slap” on the BJP, he said, “Nobody has ever thought that a ruling party would go this extent to murder democracy in this country. It was appearing as if the reign of the Governor supported by the Centre Government had taken over the country.” Hailing the Supreme Court’s move to restore the Congress Government in Arunachal Pradesh as “historic and remarkable”, ousted Congress chief minister Nabam Tuki on Wednesday said that he would summon a meeting with all the 47 members to chalk out the future course of action. “We were hopeful since the beginning that we will get justice from the SC. We have got justice from the SC. The court today saved this country and the Constitution. Our expectations have been fulfilled. It is a historic and remarkable judgment, which was expected by the people of country,” said Tuki, whose government was dismissed following days of turmoil after 21 of its 47 lawmakers rebelled against him. “I will go back to the state and will talk to the party members. We will summon a meeting with all the 47 members. Things will be decided accordingly and we will do whatever is required legally,” Tuki told ANI while taking about his next course of action.He, however, said that he was yet to receive a detail copy of the judgment. Arunachal Pradesh had been under President’s Rule since January 26. Tuki-led Congress government was dismissed following days of turmoil after 21 of its 47 lawmakers rebelled against the chief minister. The Congress, which had 47 MLAs seats in the 60-member assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of its lawmakers rebelled. Eleven BJP MLAs backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the government. Later, 14 rebel Congress MLAs were disqualified. The leader of the dissident faction, Kalikho Pul, was sworn-in as the chief minister on February 19 with the support of the 20 Congress rebels and 11 legislators of the BJP. Rahul Gandhi thanks SC for explaining democracy to PM Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a jibe at Narendra Modi post the Supreme Court’s decision to restore the Nabam Tuki-led government in Arunachal Pradesh and thanked the apex court for explaining democracy to the Prime Minister. “Thank you Supreme Court for explaining to the Prime Minister what democracy is. #ArunachalPradesh,” Rahul Gandhi’s office tweeted. PM Modi doesn’t have faith on Constitution or democracy: Kejriwal Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of not abiding by the Constitution and working in a dictatorial manner, thereby putting onus on him to take a lesson from the Supreme Court’s verdict on Arunachal Pradesh and thus allow the Delhi Government to work. “Modi ji doesn’t have faith either on the Constitution or on democracy. He is ruling in a dictatorial way. He is toppling the opposition governments and working against the Constitution. The Modi Government has got a tight slap twice on its face.first in Uttarakhand and now in Arunachal Pradesh,” Kejriwal told ANI. He said that it was not a matter of interpretation rather it was direct dictatorship by the Prime Minister. “It was a committed effort to impose President’s Rule which came to the forefront in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. I think, Modi ji will take a lesson from this and respect the Constitution, democracy and the government chosen by the people and even allow the Delhi Government to work,” he added. (ANI)