Centre committed to democratic process in J-K:Rajnath tells LS

Lok Sabha on Friday adopted a resolution on imposition of President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Centre asserting that it was committed to democratic process in the state after the Opposition termed the decision to dissolve the Assembly as "unconstitutional".

The Statutory Resolution on imposition of President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, which requires Parliament's approval, was adopted with voice vote amid din in the House.

However, after members insisted, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed a discussion on the issue as a "special case".

As opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress and NCP questioned imposition of President's Rule and dissolution of J-K Assembly, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the House that no party was in a position to form government even a day before December 19 when the Governor took the decision.

He also rejected claims of some opposition parties that the BJP was propping up a regional party to form government, saying if his party had such an intention, it would have done so within six months of the Governor's Rule.

"The government doesn't conduct elections but the government is ready for election. It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to hold elections... we are totally committed to democratic process," he said.

The Minister assured the House that security requirement of the Election Commission will be met for free and fair assembly election in the state.

Soon after imposition of the Governor's Rule in June, Singh said, the Governor's report of June 19 to the President indicated that no party or coalition of parties in the state was in a position to form government.

The Governor's rule was imposed in these conditions, he said, adding the Assembly was not dissolved for six months in anticipation of formation of government in the state. However, no party staked claim to form government and the Governor had to recommend President's Rule.

President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir follows if the Governor's rule extends beyond six months. The Statutory Resolution will now go to Rajya Sabha for approval.

Initiating the debate, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said Governor Satya Pal Malik acted in "gross violation" of the Supreme Court order in S R Bommai case that had stated that whether an alliance has a majority or not can be decided only on the floor of the assembly.

Malik's decision to impose Governor's rule after the NC, PDP and the Congress made a move to form the government in the state was also in "violation" of the Sarkaria Commission's guidelines on Centre-state relations, he said.

Trinamool Congress' Saugata Roy termed the governor's decision as "arbitrary" and claimed the Centre had propped up a rival alliance led by Sajjad Lone, who had the support of "only two MLAs".

As Singh was speaking, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah interjected, saying, "The PDP approached our party and we agreed to provide them support along with the Congress. But the irony was that the fax and phone of the Governor were not working."
Referring to the decision to dissolve the Assembly without giving an opportunity to the proposed NC-PDP-Cong alliance to form government in the state, he said, "Governor's House is not the place to prove majority but the Assembly is. Governor didn't wait and dissolved it."