NEW DELHI, February 20 (PTI): Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki today blamed RSS and BJP for the dismissal of his government, alleging that their aim is to topple all Congress governments in the Northeast.
Tuki, whose Congress government was dismissed by imposition of President's Rule on January 26 after 21 party legislators revolted against him, also alleged that Governor JP Rajkhowa and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju worked "to overthrow his democratically elected popular government".
"The whole dissidence was funded and controlled by RSS and BJP. They just want to topple all Congress governments in the Northeast. RSS and BJP were firing through the shoulders of Congress dissident MLAs," he said at a press conference in New Delhi.
Tuki's statement came a day after leader of the Congress rebels, Kalikho Pul, was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh following withdrawal of President's Rule.
The former chief minister, flanked by 26 legislators loyal to him, said whenever the NDA came to power, the governments in Arunachal Pradesh were destabilised -- be it in the time of (former chief ministers) Gegong Apang or be it during Mukut Mithi.
Tuki claimed every effort was made by Governor Rajkhowa "to trample on democracy and defy the Constitution" to remove the Congress government.
"There was no reason to dismiss my government. There was no law and order problem, there was no internal disturbance. Still, President's Rule was imposed undemocratically and unconstitutionally," he said.
The Congress leader accused Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju of supporting and instigating rebel legislators against his (Tuki's) leadership.
Demanding removal of Rajkhowa as Governor, former Congress lawmaker Takam Sanjay said democracy and Constitution "were murdered in Arunachal Pradesh and this may lead to serious law and order problems in the sensitive border state".
"Modi ji, please stop treating us as second class citizen. We are as much Indian as anyone else. Don't turn Arunachal Pradesh as another Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Congress has governments in Manipur, Assam, Meghalaya and Mizoram in the Northeast.
A revolt by Congress rebels led by Pul led to a political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh that finally led to imposition of President's Rule on January 26.
Tuki has the support of 26 legislators in the 60-member Assembly.
Congress, which had 47 legislators in the 60-member Assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of its lawmakers revolted against Tuki's leadership.
Eleven BJP legislators and two independents backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the government.
Later, 14 rebel Congress legislators were disqualified by the Speaker.
The Supreme Court was considering pleas against imposition of President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and also hearing petitions seeking examination of constitutional schemes on the scope of discretionary powers of the Governor.
After Union Cabinet's recommendation for withdrawal of President's Rule, Congress moved the Supreme Court and got an order for maintenance of status quo in the crisis-ridden state till it examined judicial and Assembly records on disqualification of 14 rebel Congress legislators by former Speaker Nabam Rebia.
However, on Thursday, the Supreme Court virtually paved the way for government formation in Arunachal Pradesh by vacating its order on maintaining status quo, after being satisfied with the Gauhati High Court order staying the disqualification of the 14 rebel Congress legislators.
Congress again moved the Supreme Court yesterday but the court rejected its plea for an interim direction that it be allowed to go in for a floor test in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly to prove majority.
Pul was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh last night following withdrawal of President's Rule.
Committed to provide stability: New Arunachal CM
Itanagar, February 20 (IANS): "We are committed to providing stability," said new Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul after a combined Congress-BJP government was sworn in late on Friday following 24 days of president's rule.
"We are committed to providing stability and working for the overall development of Arunachal Pradesh with utmost sincerity," Pul told IANS after being sworn in as the ninth chief minister.
Governor J.P. Rajkhowa administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 47-year-old Pul at a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan, marking the historic coalition government involving the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP, which has 11 members in the 60-member House Arunachal assembly, is extending outside support to Pul. Two Independent legislators are also supporting the 19 rebel Congress legislators.
But sources close to the rebel Congress camp claimed that nine Tuki's loyalists are also set to shift their allegiance to Pul.
While former chief minister Mukut Mithi, also a Rajya Sabha member from Arunachal, was present in the ceremony, Nabam Tuki and his loyalists skipped the event.
However, Congress general secretary in-charge V. Narayanasamy described the formation of the new government as "highly illegal" and "unconstitutional" since Pul had not been elected as leader of the Congress Legislature Party.
"The Congress cannot take the support of the BJP in forming a government. We don't subscribe to the BJP's ideology and therefore, the new government cannot be a Congress government," the veteran Congress leader told IANS.
However, Pasang Dorjee Sona, one of the 19 rebel Congress legislators, held Narayanasamy responsible for the political mess in the state.
"It was Congress leader Narayanasamy, in-charge of party affairs in the state, who is responsible for the political mess in the state. He never allowed us to meet and share our grievances with Congress president and vice-president," Pasang told IANS.
"We have to work with the BJP in the interest of the people of the state and governance has nothing to do with political ideology. Good governance and the development of the state come first," Pasang said.
