BJP has murdered democracy in Arunachal Pradesh: Congress

New Delhi: Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has murdered democracy by recommending President`s rule in Arunachal Pradesh.

Azad, who is the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, alleged there is a huge difference between the Governor`s rule in Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.

"Jammu and Kashmir got the Governor`s rule in compulsion because no party was ready to form the government. But the Congress had two-third majority in Arunachal Pradesh. There (in Arunachal), the Bharatiya Janata Party itself created defection, created differences and after creating crisis, they declared a crisis situation and justified the Governor`s rule," Azad said.

"It was pure fraudulence and undemocratic. The BJP has murdered the democracy by imposing the Governor`s rule," he added.

The Supreme Court will today hear the petitions filed by the Congress Party challenging the imposition of President`s rule in Arunachal.

A five-judge bench headed by Justice J.S. Khehar had earlier on Wednesday posted the matter for today.

The Centre had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Friday to justify the imposition of President`s rule. The affidavit, filed by Ministry of Home Affairs, claimed that there was complete breakdown of governance and law and order in the state.

The Centre told the apex court that Arunachal Pradesh has been witness to recurrent insurgency as well as attempts by China to claims large parts of its territory.The affidavit also referred to six reports forwarded by the Governor to the President and to the Ministry, corroborating the reasons for proclamation of Emergency and maintaining that there was political instability in the state and a war-like situation.

The affidavit was settled by Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who was asked by the five-judge constitution bench to respond to the petitions challenging the imposition of central rule.

The petitions include the plea of Rajesh Tacho, the chief whip of Congress Legislature party in the state assembly which is now kept under suspended animation.