Pseudo-nationalists of BJP trying to destabilise Uttarakhand govt: Harish Rawat

Dehradun: Amid the growing power tussle in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday accused BJP of spreading lies and trying to take political advantage of an internal rebellion in  the Congress party.

''BJP is trying to topple the democratically elected government here as they have been doing it in other states. An all-powerful BJP government at the Centre is clearly misusing its position to murder democracy in Uttarakhand, '' Rawat said while addressing a press conference here.

Some pseudo-nationalists of BJP today have become the contractors of nationalism, he added.

The Chief Minister also accused BJP of making unverified and malicious allegations against his government for political gains.

BJP has levelled three allegations against me related to the land allotment for the smart city project and helping the mining mafia. I want to say categorically that all allegations are baseless, Rawat said.

People who are murdering democracy and trying to destabilize an elected govt in Uttarakhand have no right to level allegations against me, Rawat alleged.

When asked to react on the alleged poaching of his party MLAs by the BJP, Rawat said, ''Since the state assembly has been convened to deal with the issue it would be inappropriate to say anything. However, it is clear that the money and muscle power of BJP is at play here.''

He, however, added that there is no threat to his government as he had the required numbers and people's support to be in power.

Continuing to crack the whip following the rebellion by the nine Congress MLAs in Uttarakhand, the state Congress earlier today expelled its senior leader and former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna's son and state organisation secretary Anil Gupta for six years on charges of anti-party activities.

Vijay Bahuguna's son and Congress candidate from Tehri Lok Sabha seat Saket Bahuguna faced the severe disciplinary action following the revolt by nine Congress MLAs.

In a clear fallout over the rebellion, the Uttarakhand Congress also dissolved all nine district units of the party in the state.

Later in the day, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from the state along with the nine rebel Congress leaders will meet Pranab Mukherjee, asking him to dismiss the state government.

"Will tell the President to dismiss the current government in Uttarakhand as they have lost the majority. Harish Rawat is now trying to buy people in a fit of desperation to gain support, but he will not succeed. It is his streak of corruption that has led to this situation," BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya told ANI

Meanwhile, rebel Congress MLA Harak Singh Rawat has written to Uttarakhand Governor KK Paul, urging him to call an Assembly Session tomorrow for the floor test.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who was supposed to arrive in the national capital today to discuss the political crisis in the state with the Congress leadership, was asked by party vice president Rahul Gandhi to stay put and handle the situation there.

The Congress government in Uttarakhand is facing a major crisis with 9 MLAs rebelling against Rawat and the BJP, which has 27 MLAs, staking claim to form the government.