"What is the hurry in forming a government in Uttarakhand?" Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has asked.
Highlights
- Issues on democracy should be resolved in a democratic manner: Thackeray
- Sena editorial slammed Centre's timing of President's Rule in Uttarakhand
- MLAs to decide tomorrow if Harish Rawat can resume as the CM
On a day it defended central rule in Uttarakhand in court, the BJP-led government faced lacerating criticism and an unsolicited lesson in the "democratic way" from ally Uddhav Thackeray.
"What is happening in Uttarakhand is shameful for democracy. What was the hurry in forming a government? Issues regarding democracy should be resolved in a democratic way," Mr Thackeray, the chief of the Shiv Sena, said.
His party's editorial in mouthpiece Saamana alleged the "Death of Democracy" in Uttarakhand and warned that the "desire for single party rule is more dangerous than emergency and dictatorship."
The Modi government has been sharply attacked by opposition parties for its decision to place Uttarakhand under President's Rule.
The Sena, one of the BJP's oldest allies turned unsparing critic, is part of the Centre but its only minister did not attend the cabinet meeting in which the decision was taken.
The party's trenchant comments in Saamana today mirrored allegations by the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
"On issues of morality the elected government was throttled," said the editorial.
"We are opposed to the Congress' ideology and its corrupt governments, but democratically elected governments must be removed from office through a democratic process only."
Echoing AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Sena said that after Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, it would not be a surprise if Himachal Pradesh was next in line as its Chief Minster Virbhadra Singh "has been on the Centre's radar."
The BJP, it charged, is "repeating Congress's similar attempts in the 80s and this Congressisation will plunge the country into anarchy and instability."
The party ripped into the Centre's defence on President's Rule. "If the Shiv Sena hadn't supported the BJP in Maharashtra to form government, what would the BJP have done to get the numbers? The current political status is the result of a compulsion, so the state wouldn't plunge into a political crisis," the editorial said.
It added scathingly: "If the time comes for the Sena to a separate stand from the BJP on an issue, even the BJP won't shy from using all means available even if it means playing around with democracy."