President Rule imposed in Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh, facing revolt from the Congress legislators, was placed under President Rule for six months as per the order of President Pranab Mukherjee signed last night.

The decision came after recommendation in an unscheduled meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prakash Rajkhowa said that the Article 174(1) of the Constitution was violated as such there was no assembly session for six months preceding January 21. Gherao and blockade of Raj Bhavan and the Governor, who is a nominee of the President, by some Congress MLAs amounted to Constitutional breakdown in the state.

Union Home Minister for State Kiren Rijuju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, said there was no question of Bharatiya Janata Party forming the new government. It was upto the MLAs of the state tp take a call on tghis ,he added.

Reaction of Political leaders after the imposition of President’s rule-

• MLA and spokesman of the rebel group, Pasang Dorjee, said 'we welcome the Centre's decision as there was complete breakdown of Constitution. Nabam Tuki has no constitutional, democratic or moral right to rule. He should have resigned long ago."
• Congress MLAs of Arunachal Pradesh who revolted against Chief Minister Nabam Tuki welcomed the recommendation for imposition of President's rule and said that they were ready to form an alternative government with the support of BJP and others.
• Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had expressed 'shock' at Cabinet's recommendation for imposition of Centre's rule in Arunachal Pradesh, terming it as 'murder' of the Constitution.
• Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah alleged that Raj Bhavan was being used "again to unseat elected governments by encouraging defections."