No threat to my govt, will seek review of SC verdict: Arunachal CM Kalikho

Guwahati/New Delhi: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul on Wednesday said that there was no threat to his government as the required numbers are with him and it will be decided on the floor of the Assembly.

In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court ordered restoration of the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh by quashing all decisions of the Governor that had precipitated its fall in January, holding them "violative" of the Constitution.

Reacting to the verdict ordering restoration of the previous Nabam Tuki-led Congress government, Pul, who had led the Congress rebels then, said, "(Our) government will remain.”

"That will be decided on the floor of the Assembly. Government runs only with the numbers. There is no threat to our government," he told reporters here.

Read: SC restores Arunachal Pradesh back to Congress in historic verdict

Simultaneously, the Centre said it will do a "structured examination" of the Supreme Court order and its implications before making a detailed response.

However, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad put a poser over developments in the state after December 15, including the withdrawal of the President's Rule and Kalikho Pul proving his majority subsequently in the Assembly following the "legislative procedures" and forming the government.

The judgement is seen as a major setback to the central government and the BJP, which is extending outside support to the Pul government.

Read: Arunachal verdict: Rahul thanks SC for 'explaining democracy' to Modi

"We are yet to get the order. We will study it in detail... And then make structured response. We will do a structured examination of the order. It requires detailed consideration," Prasad told reporters at the Cabinet briefing.

"We will carefully study the judgement and its implications," he said.

Attacking Congress over its criticism of the Centre in the light of the court's order, Prasad said he feels like laughing to hear sermons on democracy from it.

Meanwhile, hailing the verdict as "historic", the Congress demanded immediate sacking of Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa and apology from all those involved in the decision.

Read: Arunachal Pradesh crisis was outcome of Congress' internal feud, says BJP

Congress also demanded a probe into a tape-recorded conversation of some BJP leaders and a businessman, handed over as proof to the court, for toppling the Arunachal Government with the same "alacrity" as one initiated against Harish Rawat in Uttarakhand.

"We want the Governor to submit his resignation immediately and if he does not do so, we will ask for him to be dismissed both outside and inside Parliament," senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said.

"I have heard that Rajkhowa is on leave, he should go on long leave," he further said.

Read: SC verdict historic, democracy has been protected: Nabam Tuki

Sibal also demanded an apology from Union Ministers who were involved in the decision of imposition of President's Rule in the state. "I also demand an apology from Central government ministers who were part of the conspiracy to topple the government," he said.

He said, "This particular decision of the Supreme Court is historic in every sense of the word, because never before in the history of this country has the Supreme Court restored the status quo ante, having stuck down actions of Constitutional authorities by using unconstitutional means to bring down governments.”

Saluting the Supreme Court verdict, Sibal said, "I believe that their attempt at a 'Congress-Mukt Bharat' has not succeeded, will not succeed because there is somebody out there who is looking after the values of the Constitution to save democracy, to protect it and we salute that authority which is the Supreme Court of India."

"I salute the Supreme Court for having upheld constitutional values on the basis of which only democracy can survive," he said.

Sibal also said this is a message to this Government and also to Governors holding constitutional positions not to use the constitution "for the benefit of the party ruling in India. The BJP and if unfortunately the Governors start doing this, then it is a real threat to democracy".