Former Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Nabam Tuki's statement came a day after leader of the Congress rebels, Kalikho Pul, was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh. (PTI photo)
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.
Mr 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.
Mr 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.
Mr 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 Mr 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 Mr Pul led to a political crisis in Arunachal Pradesh that finally led to imposition of President's Rule on January 26.
Mr 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 Mr 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.
Mr Pul was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh last night following withdrawal of President's Rule.