New Delhi: A day after the Union Cabinet's recommendation, President's rule was imposed in Arunachal Pradesh on Monday. The move comes as a major setback for Congress as the party has been opposing the move.
Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Cabinet at an unscheduled meeting on Sunday morning had taken the decision.
The recommendation drew stinging condemnation from the opposition with Congress alleging democracy was being trampled and that Modi was "fountainhead" of political intolerance while a shocked Chief Minister Nabam Tuki said such a decision in a sensitive border state was "unprecedented" and "unacceptable".
Accusing the Modi government of trying to destabilize a state bordering China, the Congress also said that it will challenge in court the Cabinet decision if it gets presidential assent.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal expressed "shock" over the Cabinet decision, saying it is "murder" of the country's Constitution.
"This is really shocking as the Centre did not consult the state government before taking such a harsh decision.
Arunachal Pradesh was rocked by a political crisis on December 16 last year as 21 rebel Congress MLAs joined hands with 11 of BJP and two independents to 'impeach' Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia at a makeshift venue, in a move branded as "illegal and unconstitutional" by the Speaker.
