New Delhi: Ambika Soni, the Congress Party general secretary in charge of the party’s affairs in Uttarakhand, on Tuesday said that the grand old party has sought legal and political advice over Nainital High Court’s order allowing nine rebel MLA’s to vote during the floor test, which is the party’s last chance to prove its majority in the state.
Soni while talking to the media here said that the Congress has welcomed the high court’s verdict, but some tenets in the order are difficult to comprehend.
“We fully trust the judiciary, but we don’t understand how will the nine disqualified MLA’s will vote in the floor test, as according to the rules, disqualified MLAs are not allowed to participate in assembly matters, and the say of the honourable speaker is considered paramount.
We cannot question his decision, which was taken after fulfilling the due legal procedure. However, we have sought political advice in this regard, to find a way through this situation,” she said.
Soni further ridiculed Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over his anti- Congress remarks, saying the court has given a befitting reply to the high-headed BJP who has resorted to misusing its power.
“We saw Arun Jaitley telling media that such an incident has happened for first time in Independent India. I would like to tell him that for the first time in Independent India, a chief minister has not been allowed to prove his majority, and a day before the allotted day, presidents rule was imposed in the state,” she said.
“I also would like to say that the way the democratic institutions of our country are being challenged by the BJP is not a good sign. If you want a Congress free nation, then you must contest elections. You should not misuse the power you hold. This is like murdering democracy,” she added.
In a major relief for the Congress in the state, the Nainital High Court on Tuesday allowed a floor test in Uttarakhand Assembly on March 31st and the nine suspended rebel MLAs have been allowed to take part.
Meanwhile, the President’s rule has been stayed in the state.
The Centre dismissed the Congress government and imposed President’s rule in the state citing breakdown of governance.
Former chief minister Harish Rawat termed it as the ‘murder of democracy’.
ANI