Congress Seeks Arunachal Governor's Removal as SC Scraps President's Rule

New Delhi: Claiming a huge moral and political victory after the Supreme Court scrapped President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, the Congress on Wednesday demanded the removal of Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa for precipitating the political crisis in the state.

Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal called it a day which "will be remembered as golden days in history" while adding that judiciary is the only thing which can protect the Constitution of India.

"We salute the Supreme Court. This day will written in gold. It's a historical judgement. The SC has given a clear indication that no political party can violate the Constitution and the SC can protect the Constitution. They have also given an indication to the Governors that they should not misuse the Constitution to help the party which they support. We want that the Arunachal Governor should be sacked," said Sibal.

The political drama in Arunachal Pradesh had yet another twist on Wednesday morning with the Supreme Court ordering the restoration of the Congress government in the state. In its 331-page judgement, the five-judge constitution bench, headed by Justice JS Khehar, ordered that status quo ante as prevailed on December 15, 2015 be restored in Arunachal Pradesh Assembly.

It held that all steps and decisions taken by Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in pursuance to Governor Rajkhowa's order of December 9, 2015, are unsustainable.

The apex court said the Governor's decision advancing Arunachal Pradesh Assembly session by a month is violative of the Constitution and liable to be quashed. The court said that the Governor's direction on conducting assembly proceedings is violative of the Constitution.