Centre toppling elected governments in greed for power: Sonia Gandhi
Nanded: Stepping up her attack on the Modi government, Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday accused it of disrespecting people's mandate in its "greed for power."
With the Supreme Court ordering restoration of the party's government in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday, Gandhi charged that the Modi government dismissed duly elected governments in these states and insulted the popular mandate.
"The present government, in its greed for power, toppled duly elected governments in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand and disrespected the people's mandate," Gandhi said, addressing a rally organised by the Congress in Nanded.
Read: Short of numbers, Congress works on 'Plan B' to retain power in Arunachal
"We all are very proud of the Supreme Court for protecting our Constitution and democracy," Gandhi said, after unveiling a statue of Congress stalwart and former Union minister Shankarrao Chavan and a memorial library named after him.
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh was also present at the function.
The Modi government dismissed duly elected governments in these states and insulted the popular mandate, she said.
"Had Shankarrao been alive today, he would've been deeply hurt to see all this and would have objected to these unconstitutional steps," Gandhi said.
The Congress chief also accused the NDA dispensation of putting farmers and vulnerable sections at disadvantage by diluting the welfare schemes launched during the previous UPA rule.
Read: Nabam Tuki takes charge as Arunachal Pradesh CM
"It is sad that today, welfare schemes made by our Manmohan Singh government, for farmers, tribals, minorities and women are being weakened. As a result, lakhs of families are bearing the brunt," she said.
"The Modi government has to be reminded that there is drought in the country. Due to your (Modi government's) policies, farmers have been alienated," she said.
"You have waived off thousands of crores of loans of capitalists but left farmers to their fate," Gandhi charged.
"The BJP government is weakening welfare measures taken in last 60 years for benefit of farmers," she said. Congress would not allow farmers' voice to be stifled, she said.
Meanwhile, the Central Government has said it will restrict its role and won't file a review petition against the Arunachal verdict.
According to sources, the Centre said the Governor and MLAs were party in Arunachal and they would decide whether to go for a review or not.
However, the BJP, as a party, will ensure that the MLAs remain on its side remain intact.
A day after the apex court quashed "message and direction" issued by Arunachal Pradesh Governor JP Rajkhowa, the Centre has said that it would only advice the Governors as per the Constitution, said sources.
"The SC has quashed all the notifications issued by the Governor on December 9 and has also restored status quo as on December 15 when Tuki was the chief minister," Vivek Tankha, the lawyer appearing for the Congress Party, told the media.
"Pursing which the assembly was convened on July 16 to remove Speaker Wangki Lowang and subsequently on July 17 to pass a no confidence motion," he added.
