Tremendous setback to Centre, says ousted CM Rawat

Harish Rawat, who had challenged dimissal of his government, today said the High Court order for floor test was a "tremendous setback" to the Centre and expressed confidence that it will deter the Modi government from "destabilising" the Congress-ruled state governments.

"Congress and our government have full respect for the judiciary. We still do not have the full judgement of the High Court but the part of the order available shows that the court holds the Centre's decision wrong," he told reporters.

The ousted Chief Minister noted that Governor K K Paul had ordered floor test in the Assembly to be held on March 28 but against that the Centre had imposed the President's Rule in the state.
 

"Our fight is not against any person but the powers which are out to demolish the Constitutional institutions. Such powers have received a tremendous setback," Rawat said while attacking the Modi dispensation in the wake of the verdict.

He said Uttarakhand has already suffered a "jolt" and "deep wounds" in the form of defections but other opposition-ruled states will be saved from the Centre's designs.

"After this (court verdict), there will be a stop on attempts to destabilise other opposition ruled state governments," he said.

Rawat, whose government was sacked on Sunday on the grounds of "breakdown of Constitutional machinery", had moved the court yesterday, calling the Centre's decision as "arbitrary" and demanded its quashing.
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"The order has only restrengthened my faith in the court of law. The way I was stopped from going for a floor test has been adjudged wrong by the High Court.

"It is a strong jolt to forces out to destabilise the opposition-ruled states. I hope the court order brings such efforts to a halt," Rawat told reporters.

"Our fight is ideological, our aim is to protect constitutional norms but some forces are out to create political instability in the opposition-ruled states. It is a blow to their design. I hope other Congress-ruled states don't have to suffer the trauma Uttarakhand underwent," Rawat said.