President's rule in Uttarakhand: Congress drags the battle to court

Top Congress leader and lawyers Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal on Monday moved High Court in Nainital against the imposition of President's rule before end of deadline. Also headed to court are nine rebel lawmakers of the Congress who scripted the Uttarakhand crisis. They will challenge their disqualification yesterday from the Uttarakhand assembly by the Speaker.

Senior party leader Kapil Sibal said President’s Rule was imposed a day before the floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly as the Centre knew that Chief Minister Harish Rawat would be able to prove his majority.  “I am shocked that any government which believes in democracy and believes in the Constitution would seek to wipe off the legacy of a party,” Sibal said, alleging that BJP is a “past master in the art of horse-trading”. (Also read. President's Rule imposed in Uttarakhand; Rawat calls its murder of democracy)

Attacking Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley without taking his name, Sibal said people will not spare those in the Cabinet who are well versed with the law and still took the decision. Jaitley is believed to have briefed the President late last night about the rationale behind the Cabinet’s recommendation for the imposition of President’s Rule.

(With PTI Inputs)