'Prez rule decision reflects design to ensure 'oppn-free Ind'

Slamming the imposition of President's rule in Uttarakhand, CPI and JD-U today alleged that the Centre's decision betrays a larger design to "not only make a Congress-free India but Opposition-free India".
"BJP leaders were talking about a 'Congress-free India'. They claim that already has happened in Arunachal Pradesh and is now happening in Uttarakhand.
"I believe the design is not just to make a Congress-free India but Opposition-free India. This is how fascist forces aim to capture power. It's a challenge to all democratic forces," said CPI National Secretary D Raja.
President's Rule in the hill state is a "blow" to democracy and the constitutional and parliamentary processes, he said.

"Narendra Modi's slogan is being translated into reality. It means destabilisation of non-BJP state governments is BJP's design. This kind of destabilisation, subversion of democracy is not in the interest of our constitutional practices," he said.
Condemning the Centre's action as another constitutional "impropriety", JD-U general secretary KC Tyagi said it was an attempt to "sabotage" the constitutional mandate.

"This act also shows the BJP's mindset towards co-operative federalism. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister would have proved his majority in the Assembly on Monday. What was the need to be so impatient?
"Same was the case in Arunachal Pradesh. This is nothing less than a conspiracy by the Centre to destabilise the elected governments of the small Indian states," he said.

Tyagi called upon all non-BJP political parties, including those that are allies of the saffron outfit, particularly TDP, Akali Dal, Shiv Sena and PDP, to oppose this "egregious and unconstitutional" act and raise the issue strongly in Parliament.
JD-U also requested President Pranab Mukherjee to reconsider the decision of imposing President's Rule in Uttarakhand.