Call for removal of Governor not a correct approach: BJP on Arunachal row

Rubbishing the Congress' demand for the removal of Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa as a solution to the political crisis in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said it was not a correct approach, as the Governor is the representative of the President of India.

"I don't think a call for the removal of the Governor and abolishing the post would be a correct approach because that's also the representative of the President of India in the state as the Constitutional head of the state," BJP leader Nalin Kohli told ANI.

Clarifying his stand, Kohli asked if a law is misused or if something is not implemented correctly, does that mean will the law be abolished?

"Abolishing a thing is not always a solution. Improvement or making it more streamlined to the Constitutional requirement is the correct approach," he added.

Talking about the 11th inter-state meeting which took place in the national capital earlier today, the BJP leader said it was an important meeting where an exchange of ideas and different point of views are naturally part of such a discourse.

Claiming a huge moral and political victory after the Supreme Court scrapped President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, the Congress had earlier demanded the removal of Arunachal Pradesh Governor from its post.

In a historic verdict earlier on Wednesday, the apex court restored Nabam Tuki as the Chief Minister, a position he lost last December when Congress rebels, backed by the BJP, staged a coup.

A five-judge constitution bench had pronounced the verdict on a bunch of petitions dealing with discretionary powers of the Governor to summon or advance the assembly session.

Stating the Governor's direction on conducting the assembly proceedings is unconstitutional, the apex court set aside all steps and decision taken by the legislative assembly pursuant to the Governor's December 9th last year order and said they are unsustainable.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier today chaired the meeting of Inter-State Council in the national capital.

Listing a four-point agenda for discussion at the meeting, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted that Centre is committed to realize the equitable development of all states.

Emphasizing that states should actively participate in the formulation of development related policies and their implementation, Singh said states should indulge in a healthy competition and adopt each other's best practices.