BJP condemns Congress sit-in at Raj Bhawan: Latest developments

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on Friday marched a group of Congress MLAs towards Raj Bhawan claiming that he has the required numbers and called for an assembly session on Monday. Gehlot's statement came shortly after Rajasthan high court accepted Sachin Pilot's plea to make Centre a party in petition filed by 19 rebel Congress MLAs, including Pilot, against the disqualification notice served to them by the assembly speaker.
Here is a look at top developments —
Governor stopping assembly session due to pressure from top: Gehlot
Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday addressing the media outside Raj Bhavan in Jaipur said that the governor is delaying to take a decision on starting assembly session Monday onwards without coming under any kind of "pressure from top".
"Governor is our constitutional head. I don't hesitate to say that he couldn't have stopped it (assembly Session) without some pressure from the top. Why did he not decide yesterday? We've requested him again to make a decision soon. People are waiting. I am sure that Governor will not come under any pressure, he will make a decision. We hope the assembly session begins soon. So we are sitting here in protest. After he gives us a letter we will decide the further course of action," said Gehlot.
Rajasthan Cong MLAs begin 'dharna' at Raj Bhawan
Rajasthan Congress MLAs in the Ashok Gehlot camp began a ‘dharna' at the Raj Bhawan in Jaipur, saying they will stay put till the Governor summons a session of the state assembly. The MLAs, led by chief minister Ashok Gehlot, arrived there in four buses from a hotel on the city outskirts where they have been camping for the past few days. At the Raj Bhawan, while Gehlot met the Governor inside, the MLAs squatted on the lawns, at time shouting slogans in support of the Gehlot-led Congress government. The Governor came out to meet them. Later, the MLAs said they are starting a dharna. The CM has threatened that if the demand for convening a session is not met, the MLAs will “not be responsible” if people gherao the Raj Bhawan. Gehlot claimed the governor was under pressure from “above” not to call an assembly session.
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BJP condemns Congress sit-in at Raj Bhawan
Addressing a press conference in Jaipur, BJP leader GC Kataria condemned the sit-in organised by Congress MLAs-led by chief minister Ashok Gehlot who are demanding an early assembly session. Kataria said, "The manner in which you protested at Raj Bhavan and the kind of slogans which were raised, I think no other chief minister can do something as condemnable as this. Nation and legal experts should look into this that a chief minister is saying that people will do 'gherao' of Raj Bhavan." Kataria urged the Centre to not leave the law and order in the hands of Rajasthan Police and deploy CRPF in Jaipur.
Sachin Pilot has 20-30 MLAs, he can't become the chief minister: Kapil Sibal
Addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said that Sachin Pilot has achieved so much at such a young age, "what more does he want? If he is part of Congress, like he says he is and we believe that he is part of Congress, then why did he not attend the CLP meetings? If he has not joined the BJP then why is he in Haryana? You have achieved so much at such a young age, what more do you want? You want to be the chief minister? Then say it. You have 20-30 MLAs, how will you become the chief minister? The total strength of Congress is much more than that in the assembly," said Sibal.
Have majority, some rebel Cong MLAs wish to return but being held captive: Gehlot
Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot says the Congress and its allies have a majority in the assembly and a section of its MLAs are anxious to return to the party fold but are being held captive in a hotel in Haryana. All constitutional and legal options are open before the state government and will be resorted to "as and when necessary", Gehlot said. "I want to repeat that we have a majority of the MLAs and even our adversaries know this. We will never shy away from resorting to democratic and constitutional processes in this regard and will take decisions at the right time," Gehlot said to a question on when he will call an assembly session.
We are not held hostage; never contacted BJP: Rebel Congress MLA Meena
MLA Murari Lal Meena, who supports Sachin Pilot, is seen in a video clarifying that he along with some other MLAs, are in Delhi. "We are staying in Delhi. CM Ashok Gehlot said we are held hostage by BJP, it's untrue as we were never in touch with them. On the contrary, our families are scared due to the use of Special Operations Group by the chief minister. This is hypocrisy on the part of Congress. Gehlot Ji has had such a long history in Congress and has thrice served as the chief minister. He should take a back seat now," said Meena.
Rajasthan HC directs speaker to maintain status quo
Rajasthan High Court has given a status quo order on the July 14 order of the Rajasthan Legislative assembly speaker. The court has observed that the petitioners' prayer numbers 3 and 4, which seek to allow them to continue as MLAs, does not come under its jurisdiction," said advocate Prateek Kasliwal, lawyer of assembly speaker CP Joshi. "The court has also directed to complete the pleading in the matter. The final hearing will take place after the pleading completes and an early listing application is moved. The High Court will only hear the matter related to whether the notice issued by the speaker was right and whether Schedule 2 (1) (A) is Constitutional," Kasliwal said. The lawyer said that the matter will now be taken up by the Supreme Court.
Rajasthan HC accepts Pilot's plea to make Centre a party
Kasliwal also said that the High Court has made the Central government a party in the case. The bench of Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta allowed the application that was moved by the dissident MLAs on Thursday. The application for impleadment was moved on the grounds that the Tenth Schedule's constitutional validity was under challenge and, therefore, the Union of India is a necessary party now. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) will represent Centre in the court, according to lawyer of speaker CP Joshi.
Supreme Court says Rajasthan HC free to pass order on rebel Congress MLAs
Rajasthan assembly speaker CP Joshi failed to get relief from the Supreme Court on his plea that the Rajasthan high court cannot interdict the disqualification proceedings against 19 dissident Congress MLAs, including sacked deputy CM Sachin Pilot, that he has taken up under anti-defection law. The court observed that “voice of dissent” in a democracy cannot be shut down. The HC had on July 21 asked him to defer the proceedings till July 24, when it decides on the petition of the rebel MLAs challenging the disqualification notices. However, the apex court added that the HC's order would be subject to the outcome of the petition before it.
The spat between chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his then deputy Sachin Pilot came to light after Special Operation Groups issued notices earlier this month to Gehlot and Pilot to record their statement in connection with the alleged attempts to topple their Congress government. Pilot was apparently miffed with his name figuring in the FIR and launched a revolt by defecting 18 MLAs from the party.
(With inputs from agencies)
In Video:Rajasthan: HC accepts Sachin Pilot's plea to make Centre a party