Follow ‘raj dharma’, don’t encourage horse trading: Congress tells PM Modi

New Delhi: The Congress Party on Tuesday lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing political crisis in Uttarakhand and said that he should practice ‘raj dharma’ abiding by the Constitution of India instead of encouraging horse trading.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making a mockery of India’s Constitution by indulging in such petty politics.

“We want to humbly tell Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi by reminding him of ‘raj dharma’ that his duty is towards the Constitution not towards petty politicking and horse trading by the BJP which he is encouraging,” Surjewala told ANI here.

“We would like to say that the entire episode where a Union Minister took nine rebel MLAs at night in an airplane. The way Haryana Government is keeping and protecting those MLAs, the way Union Ministers are meeting those MLAs reflects politics of mudslinging of buying MLAs of using money and muscle power is ruling the roost under the active protection of the Prime Minister of the country.” added.

The Congress leader further said if the Prime Minister is going to violate the Constitution with such impunity then who is going to protect the same.

“These are fundamental questions that the Prime Minister needs to introspect and ponder over. What would happen to the Constitution of India? What would happen to his oath of office?” he added.

The Uttarakhand battle reached the corridors of the Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday with BJP demanding President Pranab Mukherjee to dismiss the Harish Rawat-led government while the Congress accused the ruling dispensation at the Centre of destabilising the grand old party.

Launching a frontal attack on former Uttarakhand chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, one of the nine Congress MLAs who revolted against the Harish Rawat-led government and joined hands with the BJP, the Congress yesterday expelled his son Saket Bahuguna and party’s state organisation secretary Anil Gupta for six years on charges of indiscipline and anti-party activities.

Vijay Bahuguna and the other eight rebel MLAs have also been issued notices by Speaker G.S. Kunjwal under the anti-defection law.

The Congress has told all of its MLAs that any indiscipline will not be tolerated at any cost and strict action will be taken against the violators.

Chief Minister Rawat yesterday accused the NDA Government of attempting to destabilise his government while rejecting the BJP’s allegations of corruption in his state. (ANI)