Sibal claims Modi, Amit Shah hand-in-glove in toppling Arunachal govt

Senior Congress leader and lawyer Kapil Sibal on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah of being hand in glove with rebel Congress leaders to topple the government in Arunachal Pradesh.

Addressing a press conference here, Sibal read out a transcript of a telephonic conversation between rebel Congress leader Kalikho Pul and a businessman that stated that the entire crisis in Arunachal Pradesh was 'pre-planned'.

"All this was pre-planned. I have a transcript of telephonic conversation between rebel Congress leader Kalikho Pul and a businessman. He says that we will topple this government. He asks for businessman's support. He says that he cannot ask BJP for money, so he asks businessman for help. He also says that Prime Minister, Amit Shah and RSS has cleared his leadership," Sibal said.

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He also criticised Arunachal Pradesh Governor J P Rajkhowa for flouting the 'values of a Republic' and accused him of acting like a 'Sangh Pracharak'.

"The Governor cannot summon the house on his own, the Governor has to summon the house on the advice of council of ministers. In this case, on the November 3rd, the house had been summoned for January 14, 2016. On the instance of 11 BJP leaders, the Governor pre-poned unilaterally without the advice of council of ministers and held the house on 16-18 December," he said.

Sibal also accused the BJP of trying to destabilise all non-BJP governments in the country.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be meeting President Pranab Mukherjee today to put forth the government's view this regard.

A Congress delegation led by Sonia Gandhi is likely to meet the President later today to express their concern over the government's stand.

The Congress had earlier dubbed the government's move to recommend President's rule as 'unconstitutional' and alleged that it exposed the dictatorial tendencies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Union Cabinet yesterday recommended President's rule in Arunachal Pradesh. The recommendation has been sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for his approval.

Arunachal Pradesh was rocked by a political crisis on December 16 last year as 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with BJP's 11 MLAs and two independents to impeach Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue.

The Speaker termed the move as illegal and unconstitutional.