This Article is From Feb 01, 2016

President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh: Supreme Court To Hear Congress' Plea Today

President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh: Supreme Court To Hear Congress' Plea Today

The Congress, which rules eight other states, has accused the Arunachal governor of acting like a "BJP agent"

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will today hear the Congress' arguments against the imposition of President's rule in the Arunachal Pradesh.

The Congress has accused Arunachal Governor JP Rajkhowa of being biased and working on the directions of the central government to dislodge the Congress government in the state.

Calling the crisis in the state "too serious", the Supreme Court last week had issued notices to the central government and Mr Rajkhowa on the plea by former Arunachal Chief Minister Nabam Tuki.

The top court had asked to see the state governor's report citing a "Constitutional breakdown" and had also asked the Centre to reply to its notice by January 29.

Both the Centre and Governor had submitted their replies and the court will take up the matter today.

President Pranab Mukherjee last week had given assent to the Centre's decision to impose central rule in the northeastern state.

Cow slaughter, threats and an episode with Chief Minister Tuki's council of minister that almost resulted in physical assault were some of the reasons cited by Mr Rajkhowa while detailing why President's Rule was essential in the state.

Mr Rajkhowa has sent six reports to the President, claiming how "Constitutional machinery has broken down in the state."

The reports mention the accusation of three dissident legislators that Mr Tuki had been "engaging" with the outlawed NSCN-K, a Naga militant group, to bring pressure on them to support him.

One of the reports also detailed how a Mithun -- a bison -- was sacrificed outside the Raj Bhavan on December 17, the day the controversial session of the assembly was held in a hall, and how before that, Mr Tuki had instigated youths to hold protests outside the Governor's House using loudspeakers.  
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