Tuki accuses RSS, BJP of toppling Congress govt in Arunachal

New Delhi: Former Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Nabam Tuki on Saturday blamed RSS and BJP for the dismissal of his government, alleging that their aim was 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 MLAs revolted against him, also alleged that Governor J P 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.

Tuki's statement came a day after leader of the Congress dissidents, Kalikho Pul, was sworn-in as Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh following withdrawal of President's rule.

The former Chief Minister, flanked by 26 MLAs 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 dissident MLAs against his (Tuki's) leadership.

Demanding removal of Rajkhowa as Governor, former Congress MP 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 dissidents 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 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly.

Congress, which had 47 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of its lawmakers revolted against Tuki's leadership.

Eleven BJP MLAs and two independents backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the government.

Later, 14 rebel Congress MLAs 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 MLAs by former Speaker Nabam Rebia.

However, on Thursday, the apex 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 MLAs.

Congress again moved the Supreme Court yesterday but the Supreme 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.