Uttarakhand Assembly records tampered, want CBI probe: BJP

The party also accused Harish Rawat of trying to mislead people of the state during his padyatras by saying that a democratically elected government was toppled

Alleging that records of Uttarakhand Assembly proceedings were "re-written" at the behest of ousted chief minister Harish Rawat, BJP today demanded a CBI probe into the matter.

The party also announced that it will launch a 'Save Uttarakhand' yatra next, countering Rawat's foot march in the state.

"Harish Rawat and Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal acted in collusion. At the former CM's behest, the Speaker had the proceedings of the House rewritten in his chamber on the night of March 18 (when crisis broke out in the House) to make it appear as if the Appropriation bill had been passed which had actually been defeated," state BJP president Ajay Bhatt alleged.

"We demand a CBI probe so that people get to know how people occupying constitutional offices had misused their position," he said.

Accusing the Speaker of leaving his chair and "literally fleeing" from the Assembly when a division of votes was sought on the Appropriation Bill by a majority of members including BJP MLAs and Congress rebels, Bhatt asked "when was the legislation passed by the House?"

He also challenged the veracity of the Speaker's claim that he had sent the Appropriation Bill for the Governor's assent on March 19, a day after the crisis in the Assembly, and claimed the legislation was sent by former Parliamentary Affairs Minister Indira Hridayesh a day after the imposition of President's rule in the state.

He also accused deposed Rawat of trying to mislead people of the state during his padyatras by saying that a democratically elected government was toppled and that he is a "beheaded CM".

"Killers of democracy have no right to talk about democracy," Bhatt said and announced that the state BJP will launch a 'Save Uttarakhand' yatra next week to "expose" Rawat.

Accusing the Speaker of violating rules of business of the House, Bhatt said even if one member demands division of votes on Appropriation bill, the Speaker cannot deny this as it is every member's privilege.

"Whereas in this instance, 35 members of a House with an effective strength of 70 were demanding a division of votes and still they were denied this privilege," he said.

Taking a dig at Rawat for trying to garner sympathy of people during his padyatras, Bhatt said, "People across the country have seen him negotiating a money deal to buy back disgruntled MLAs in a sting video and they can't be taken for a ride".