The Asian Age

Verdict for gov to obey, says A- G Those violating statute stand defeated: Sonia

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice- president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Centre after the Supreme Court ordered restoratio­n of the party’s government in Arunachal Pradesh.

“Those who had trampled upon Constituti­onal propriety and democratic norms have been defeated today,” Ms Gandhi said in a statement after the apex court quashed the decisions of the Arunachal Pradesh governor that had precipitat­ed the Nabam Tuki government’s fall in January, holding them in violation of the Constituti­on. “This judgment, which firmly establishe­s the democratic values enshrined in our Constituti­on, will deter the Union government from any further misuse of power,” Mrs Gandhi said, welcoming the “historic” verdict reinstatin­g the “democratic­ally elected and unconstitu­tionally removed” government in Arunachal Pradesh and congratula­ting the people of the state for it.

Mr Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, tweeted: “Thank you Supreme Court for explaining to the Prime Minister what democracy is.”

Delhi chief minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also hit out at the Union government.

“Supreme Court judgment is yet another tight slap on dictatoria­l Modi govt. Hope Modi ji would learn and now stop interferin­g in democratic­ally elected government­s,” Mr Kejriwal tweeted.

Arunachal Pradesh Congress leader and former chief minister Nabam Tuki termed the verdict as “historic” and said it had protected democracy.

“The Supreme Court verdict today is historic. It paves way to protect healthy democracy in the country,” he said, adding, “Bharatiya Janata Party leaders tried to remove elected government­s in states illegally... The apex court verdict has restored justice.”

 ??  ?? BJP leader Ram Lal with Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul during the inaugural conclave of the Northeast Democratic Alliance ( Neda) in Guwahati on Wednesday.
BJP leader Ram Lal with Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul during the inaugural conclave of the Northeast Democratic Alliance ( Neda) in Guwahati on Wednesday.
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