Buoyed by Uttarakhand result, Cong attacks Modi govt

New Delhi, May 11: Buoyed by the restoration of its government in Uttarakhand, Congress today targeted the Modi dispensation in the Lok Sabha, saying it now hopes that the opposition governments will not be toppled anymore and the "murder of democracy" will stop.

Soon after Supreme Court made public today the result of the confidence vote held in Uttarakhand Assembly yesterday, Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge informed the House about it the development in which his party was declared a winner.

"Hope that the Centre would refrain from using Article 356 (by which President's Rule is imposed on a state) and stop the murder of democracy," he said, amid thumping of desks by Congress members, including party chief Sonia Gandhi.

NCP members also joined in the thumping of desks as Kharge expressed the hope that the Centre would henceforth restrain from "such wrong and malafide moves".

His remarks evoked sharp protests from BJP members. Amid the din, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan adjourned the House for lunch recess. Earlier, she asked Kharge twice to specify the subject on which he wanted to speak during the Zero Hour which was in progress.

He, however, did not specify. Minutes before, Mahajan was informed by the Lok Sabha officials about the results of the Uttarakhand floor test which was made public by the apex court.

The Uttarakhand issue earlier rocked Parliament several times during the current session which began on April 25. The Centre had imposed President's Rule in Uttarakhand in March 27, claiming "Constitutional breakdown" there following a disputed passage of Appropriation Bill on March 18.

In the confidence vote held yesterday after the Supreme Court's order, Congress got 33 votes in the 61-member House. The result was declared by the Supreme Court today.

PTI