Against the backdrop of imposition President's Rule in Uttarakhand, the regional parties said in the Parliament that the BJP-led NDA government is following in the footsteps of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. (File photo)
Regional parties, including Trinamool Congress, BJD and Akali Dal, today opposed the practice of invoking Article 356 to impose President's Rule in states, terming it as "regressive" and "anti-democracy"
Against the backdrop of imposition President's Rule in Uttarakhand, these parties said the BJP-led NDA government is following in the footsteps of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.
"If states are disturbed this way, it reminds us of Indira Gandhi when Article 356 was misused. All these are regressive steps and bad procedure," Tathagata Satpathy (BJD) said while participating in a discussion on Uttarakhand Budget for 2016-17.
Prem Singh Chandumajra (SAD), an NDA ally, too opposed imposition of central rule on states.
However, with regard to Uttarakhand, he supported the government's move and said Congress is now getting a taste of its own medicine.
"We oppose invoking of Article 356. Akali Dal has been a victim of this in the past," Mr Chandumajra said.
About imposition of President's Rule in Uttarakhand, he said the "Centre did not have any alternative".
Mr Satpathy said, "There is desperation within the NDA government especially because they lost Bihar elections and the larger cow belt. So they are focusing on smaller states in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand to coble up majority."
He then targeted the Congress, saying "None of us can forget from 1951 how Congress government during Indira Gandhi's time had misused Article 356 and had been demolishing democratically elected governments in states. The original Mrs Gandhi kicked out governments. Nobody respected wishes of people."
He said what is happening in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand is "anti-democracy" and a "sad thing" as people expected cooperative federalism from the NDA government.
"What worries us now is which state government is your target now," Mr Satpathy said.
Contending that he is equally distanced from Congress and BJP, Saugata Ray (TMC) said as a regional party, it is opposed to imposition of President's Rule as it overrides the Constitutional power of states.
"We think the drama in Uttarakhand has been a sordid drama and shamed Indian democracy and both sides are to be blamed. It is unfortunate," Mr Ray said.
Alleging that the Centre has used "manipulation" in unsettling the government and then giving "fallacious arguments", Mr Roy said "Imposition of President's Rule is wrong and in Uttarakhand case the speciality is that Governor did not recommend it".
He demanded that the state Budget should not be passed by Parliament and instead the state Assembly should pass it after the floor test tomorrow.
Jitendra Chaudhury (CPIM) said the Centre has indulged in "undemocratic" acts in Uttarakhand and has dismantled the state government.
"NDA is committing the same wrong what was started by Congress party in 1959. Since Uttarakhand assembly is alive, let the Budget be passed there, it is very unfair and not in propriety. It is a shameless assault on democracy and promulgation of Article 356 should be scrapped," he said.
M Rajamohan Reddy (YSRCP) said his party supports the Budget but opposed the defection of people from one party to another.
"This defection is a very immoral thing. We have to correct it, otherwise it will become mockery," he said, as he accused TDP of "paying huge money" to 17 legislators for switching sides.
He also sought correction in the Anti-Defection Law to stop this "immoral defection".
Mr Reddy appreciated former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying if he had wished, he could have saved mid-term polls in 1999 by getting some lawmakers to his side.
To that, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said "that is why he is Bharat Ratna".
AP Jithender Reddy (TRS) said in Telangana, legislators are willingly coming and joining TRS. "States should be allowed to run and Article 356 should not be unnecessarily invoked".