NEW DELHI -- Hailing the Supreme Court verdict restoring the Congress government in Arunachal Pradesh as "historic", the Congress today demanded the immediate sacking of Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa and an apology from all those involved in the decision to topple the Nabam Tuki government.
Congress also demanded a probe into a tape-recorded conversation of some BJP leaders and a businessmen, handed over as proof to the court, for toppling the Arunachal Government.
"We want the Governor to submit his resignation immediately and if he does not do so, we will ask for him to be dismissed both outside and inside Parliament," senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said.
"I have heard that Rajkhowa is on leave, he should go on long leave," he further said.
Sibal also demanded an apology from Union Ministers who were involved in the decision of imposition of President's Rule in the state.
"I also demand an apology from Central government ministers who were part of the conspiracy to topple the government," he said.
Sibal also demanded that there be a thorough probe into the alleged taped conversations of BJP leaders with a businessman conspiring to topple the Congress government in the state with the same "alacrity" as one initiated against Harish Rawat in Uttarakhand.
He said "this particular decision of the Supreme Court is historic in every sense of the word, because never before in the history of this country has the Supreme Court restored the status quo ante, having stuck down actions of Constitutional authorities by using unconstitutional means to bring down governments".
Saluting the Supreme Court verdict, Sibal said, "I believe that their attempt at a 'Congress-Mukt Bharat' has not succeeded, will not succeed because there is somebody out there who is looking after the values of the Constitution to save democracy, to protect it and we salute that authority which is the Supreme Court of India."
"I salute the Supreme Court for having upheld constitutional values on the basis of which only democracy can survive," he said.
Sibal also said this is a message to this Government and also to Governors holding constitutional positions not to use the constitution "for the benefit of the party ruling in India i.e. the BJP and if unfortunately the Governors start doing this, then it is a real threat to democracy".
