Uttarakhand crisis: BJP has strangulated democracy, says ally Shiv Sena

Mumbai, Mar 30: Shiv Sena on Wednesday came out strongly against ally BJP over imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand, saying it had "strangulated democracy" in the name of morality and cautioned that this may create instability and anarchy in the country.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party also said that its alliance with BJP in Maharashtra is "temporary and borne out of political compulsion", and there is "no question of morality or immorality" in the tie-up.

The Centre had on Sunday brought Uttarakhand under President's rule citing a Constitutional breakdown in the wake of a rebellion in the ruling Congress.

"The BJP used nine rebel Congress MLAs to bring instability in Uttarakhand government," the Sena alleged in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.

"If the government had lost majority, the decision should have been taken in the state Assembly. The Governor had even given time to the government to prove its majority by March 28, but a day before that President's rule was imposed. What did the BJP gain out of it?" it asked.

"We are against the corrupt practices of Congress. But, a government in power by democratic means, should be ousted by democratic means only. It will not be long before all this creates instability and anarchy in the country," the junior alliance partner said.

"We are not concerned about the Congress losing power. But, as the Opposition parties say, you strangulate democracy? In a democracy, the voice of the Opposition is of paramount importance. A one party rule is worse than emergency or dictatorship. The country will be ruined if the Opposition is eliminated and poison is thrown at allies," it lashed out.

The Sena said that the present coalition in Maharashtra was out of political compulsions.

"The Sena is with the government because we do not want instability and lawlessness in the state. There is no question of morality or immorality here but this a temporary arrangement borne out of political compulsions," it said.

Following the imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand, the Congress had slammed the decision calling it a "murder of democracy" and a "black" day. Meanwhile, the Uttarkhand High Court yesterday ordered a floor test in the Assembly on March 31, giving a new turn to the political developments in the state.

PTI