BJP targeting my govt ever since it came to power: Harish Rawat

Rawat alleged that the Centre even made deduction in the funds allocated to the state

Crying foul over imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand, former chief minister Harish Rawat today said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA at the Centre has been targeting his government ever since it came to power.

"The BJP-led Centre was after me and my government from day one. The Centre even made deduction in the funds allocated to the state, even funds for pilgrimage was reduced," he added.

Venting his ire, he alleged that the BJP has murdered values of Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 125th birth anniversary.

Levelling serious allegations against rebel Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat, he said that the former valued money above anything else and was against the legislation to seize unnamed properties.

"Most upsetting was that I had to make compromise with such a leader (Harak Singh Rawat) who used to value money above everything. The fact that we decided to bring legislation to seize unnamed properties only stimulated the process," he said.

"Harak Singh ji came to me twice and asked me not to bring legislation to seize unnamed properties," he added.

After almost seven days of verbal battle between the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the political crisis in Uttarakhand, President's rule was imposed in the hill state on Sunday.

The Uttarakhand Assembly has been kept in suspended animation following President's rule in the state.

The recommendation for central rule was made by the Union Cabinet at its emergency meeting last night, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.