Buoyed over the party's unity in Arunachal Pradesh, Congress today said people and legislators have rejected politics of defections and unseating of elected governments in the state and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah should draw lessons in democratic values.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said those who sought to keep constitutional principles aside, decimating them at the altar of power politics, have been shown the strength of democracy in the state.
"The Supreme Court and now people of Arunachal Pradesh and the Legislatures of Arunachal Pradesh have decisively rejected the politics of defections and of unseating elected Governments through a concerted well planned and executed conspiracy...
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"BJP and its chief Amit Shah, who have been conspiring to bring down elected governments in North East, need to take lessons in democratic values," he said.
He said today's developments indicate that people have innate faith in Congress in providing a stable and development oriented government in Arunachal.
"It is in particular a lesson for BJP President Amit Shah and the politics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who sought to unseat and bring down elected governments by completely ignoring the mandate of people, subjugating democracy and ignoring the essential tenets of our Constitution.
"Those who wanted to give the Constitutional principles at bay and keep it on the side by decimating them at the altar of power politics have been shown the strength of democracy in Arunachal Pradesh," he said.
Surjewala said the people and the legislature of Arunachal Pradesh have once again proved that "they have innate faith in the Indian National Congress and its leadership to provide a stable and development oriented Government in Arunachal".
Attacking Amit Shah, AICC general secretary incharge of Arunachal Pradesh affairs C P Joshi, said it was a blow to his plans of making the north East "Congress-mukt" (Congress-free) as he had convened a meeting of the North-East Council formed by him the day the Supreme Court judgement came.
Hoping that the Governor would soon invite newly-elected Congress leader in the state to form his government as all Congress MLAs have come together expressing their faith in the Congress leadership, he said, "We also hope the Centre would fulfil its responsibility towards extending its support to the development of Arunachal Pradesh."
Asked if any disciplinary action will be taken against ousted chief minister Kalikho Pul, who formed a government with rebels and the support of BJP, he said it was premature as a government was yet to be formed and Pul has come back as a Congressman and had attended the Legislature Party meeting as a Congress member.
To a question on why Nabam Tuki was jettisoned, Surjewala said "we do not look at it like this. Tuki by his own volition and in the interest of the Party and in the interest of people of Arunachal Pradesh, decided to resign as Chief Minister. He has rendered valuable service to the State as also to the Indian National Congress and we recognize his contribution".
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On a question relating to BJP's role in the present crisis, Joshi alleged that the Government of India is using funding as an "instrument" to have their absolute reach in the states.
"They have abolished the Planning Commission, so the financial powers are at the whims and fancies of the central government and that's why they are misusing this power," he said.
Referring to misuse of money power, Surjewala said those MLAs who had defected earlier were kept in five-star hotels in BJP-ruled states and they were present with the BJP President.
"Muscle and money power was rampantly misused to purchase loyalty," he said, adding that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Prime Minister and BJP's foul play on democracy has come a full circle today".
