Shiv Sena attacks BJP over Uttarakhand issue

Mumbai, May 12: Shiv Sena on Thursday, May 12 attacked BJP over the Uttarakhand issue and said the mandate its senior ally had secured was not to indulge in "suspicious" activities and "needless" acts even as it wondered if an emergency-like situation would emerge in the future.

Sena, in an editorial in its mouth piece 'Saamana', hailed the judiciary for "saving" democracy in Uttarakhand and said handling of the situation in the hill state by the Centre had served as a "tonic" for Congress' revival. "Power is a double-edged sword. Do not chop off your own nose with this sword.

It has happened so in Uttarakhand," Sena said. Those who tried to show their "might" by imposing the President's Rule in the state have fallen flat on their face, it said.

"We are sad that this has given a revival tonic to Congress," it added. "BJP has been embarrassed completely. Circumstances in Uttarakhand were not conducive for Congress but they have now turned beneficial for the party due to the grave mistakes of our own," it said.

Referring to the rebellion by nine Congress MLAs in Uttarakhand, Sena said the government there had been reduced to a minority. "Had the trust vote been taken then, Congress government in Uttarakhand would have been defeated.

However, the President's Rule was imposed to avoid show of strength," it said. "The courts had to intervene there due to the mistakes of those in power. The courts saved democracy. People have not elected you (BJP) to power to indulge in suspicious activities and needless acts," Sena said.

"This is not the way to make the country Congress-free. Rebellion and horse trading are a disease. Instead of treating this disease, if it is being spread, we are worried about the future of the country. We wonder if there will be a situation of lawlessness and emergency in the future."

Taking a swipe at BJP for "its policy of favouring creation of smaller states", the Sena said such states are now plagued by the disease of instability. Sena's attack on BJP came a day after the Supreme Court declared that Congress has won the floor test held in the Uttarakhand Assembly on Tuesday.

The two saffron parties share power in Maharashtra and also at the Centre.

PTI