Jammu and Kashmir assembly dissolved on orders from PM Modi, his office: Congress

The Congress on Thursday condemned the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly with its national spokesperson Manish Tiwari alleging that Governor Satyapal Malik acted on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his office.

J & K Governor Satya Pal Malik. PTI Photo

JAIPUR: The Congress on Thursday condemned the dissolution of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly with its national spokesperson Manish Tiwari alleging that Governor Satya Pal Malik acted on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his office. Satya Pal Malik passed an order dissolving the state assembly on Wednesday night, hours after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) staked claim to form a government with the backing of rival National Conference (NC) and the Congress. This was followed by another bid by Sajan lone of the People's Conference who claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties. "The Jammu and Kashmir governor has played with the Constitution of the country. The act to dissolve the assembly has been taken on the directions of the prime minister and the PMO," PTI quoted Tewari as saying during a press conference here. He said that the "unethical and unconstitutional" act taken by the Jammu and Kashmir Governor is condemnable. It reflects the mentality of the BJP and its leaders. They can go to any extent to form their government and strangulate democracy if any other political party forms government, he added. Tewari alleged that the BJP in the last six months tried to lure legislators of various political parties, but it remained unsuccessful in its attempts. "For the last five-six months, the BJP tried its best to garner support by indulging in horse trading. But when its conspiracy failed to yield any result, it got the Governor to dissolve the Assembly just after the PDP, National Conference and the Congress staked claim to form the government," Tewari said. The PDP, the NC and the Congress wrote to the Governor about their intent to form the government but he dissolved the assembly in a hurry, saying that his office fax machine was not working, he said. Earlier in the day former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram also targeted Malik saying parliamentary democracy was "outdated" for the BJP-appointed Governor. "As long as no one staked a claim to form government, Jammu and Kashmir Governor was happy to keep the Assembly under suspension. The moment someone staked a claim, he dissolved the Assembly. Parliamentary democracy standing on its head. "The Westminster model of democracy is outdated. Like in all other matters, it is the Gujarat model that has appealed to the J&K Governor," Chidambaram tweeted. The party also ridiculed the Governor's defence on Wednesday, when he maintained that "the grand alliance" of PDP, National Conference and Congress was an "opportunistic" one. "It is unfortunate that the Governor is talking more like a BJP spokesperson than a governor. We strongly condemn his action and demand that elections are held at the earliest for the sake of democracy," said party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala. (With inputs from agencies)