Uttarakhand fit for President’s Rule: Jaitley

New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said Uttarakhand was a text book case for enforcing President’s Rule.

Jaitley, who briefed President Pranab Mukherjee after the union cabinet recommended President’s rule in the state, said: “I believe there cannot be a better example (for implementing President’s Rule).

“For the last nine days, the constitution was being violated in Uttarakhand,” he said.

Jaitley said the appropriation bill was deemed as passed by the speaker of Uttarakhand assembly though more that half the members present demanded a division, which would have led to recorded voting.

“On 18th, 68 MLAs were present, 35 of them had demanded a division.

“The MLAs said they had voted against the appropriation bill. This is the first example in independent India that a failed bill was announced passed without voting,” he said.

President’s Rule was imposed in Uttarakhand on Sunday, days after nine Congress legislators rebelled against Chief Minister Harish Rawat.

The state assembly was to consider a crucial trust vote on Monday.

IANS