NEW DELHI: Congress today dismissed as a "canard" that disqualification of nine rebel MLAs in Uttarakhand came after imposition of President's rule, suggesting it is an 'open and shut case'.
"This is a canard being propagated for last one week. The rebels were served disqualification order at 2.45 PM, the hearing was over on Saturday but on their insistence, the Speaker gave time till Sunday again."
"At 2.45 PM on Sunday they were served in the MLA hostel by email and their constituencies, at 2.45 PM. The President's rule was gazetted at 5.30/ 5.45 PM," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.
Singhvi, who is a senior Supreme Court lawyer and representing the party's case in the high court, insisted that the imposition of President's rule was "unique misuse" of its powers by the Centre.
This, he claimed, was because this is the first time in independent India, the mandate of the state governor as well as the Speaker has been negatived by the central action.
He indicated that the rebels were in a precarious position in view of the fact that they have written a letter to the governor on the same letterhead as the BJP MLAs and had gone to the governor in the same bus with them.
"What more inquiry is needed under the 10th schedule? No one is raising questions about their signatures," he said indicating that it is a clear case under the anti-defection act.