Cong demands recall of Arunachal governor

The Guwahati High court today said the Governor's conduct was "unworthy of the state's constitutional head"

Cutting across party lines, Opposition members on Friday registered their protests in the Rajya Sabha, demanding the recall of Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa, forcing three adjournments in the House.

The Congress released a judgment of the high court’s that stated that the Governor’s conduct was “unworthy of the state’s constitutional head”. The court had said Governor J P Rajkhowa was required to perform his duty with the aid of the Council of Ministers but his action of preponing the Assembly session on the demand of Opposition MLAs “taints” the decision and renders it “unworthy of the state's constitutional head”.

The Governor had expressed “extreme surprise” and decided to appeal against a Gauhati High Court order staying his notification advancing the session of the state Assembly after which the Speaker and Chief Minister were “voted out” and a new CM “elected” at a makeshift premises.

The Congress had not allowed the transaction of transacted in the Rajya Sabha for the past five days over the elected chief minister and government being thrown out in Arunachal Pradesh.



Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Arunachal Pradesh issue needed to be taken up as the central government was responsible for the stalemate in Parliament. Congress has alleged that the Governor had worked at the behest of the state BJP unit.  

Sonia Gandhi staged a walkout. “Stop partiality”, Congress members chanted as they left the House, with party leader Mallikarjun Kharge announcing a boycott of the proceedings for the day. JD-U and NCP also joined the walkout.

Gandhi was herself in the well for a while with an agitated Kharge, who pleaded with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan to allow him to speak, claiming that the developments in Arunachal portended danger for democracy. The Speaker remained unmoved.

During the question hour as also during the zero hour, Congress members stormed the well demanding the recall of the Arunachal Pradesh Governor, chanting slogans “stop dictatorship” and “dismiss the governor”.

The Speaker made it clear that no reference to the high court can be made in the House and the Arunachal issue has already been raised. “You raise slogans every day. Government can't take decisions and House cannot run like this,” she observed.

Apparently referring to Congress, she said “with years of rule and presence in the House, you have experience... proceedings will take place as per rules and procedures.”

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu also urged the Chair to delete the reference made to the high court.