New Delhi, May 9 (IANS): The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Uttarakhand Appropriation (Vote on Account) Bill, 2016, which the government said was a "constitutional necessity".
However, Congress floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge called it "unconstitutional", after which all the Congress members walked out saying that the government could have waited till Tuesday when the Assembly is to see a trial of strength for the Harish Rawat government.
During the debate, members from regional parties as well as the Congress opposed what they said was the "abuse of Article 356".
Making a strong case for the dismissal of the Harish Rawat-led Congress government and imposition of President's Rule in the hill State, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the constitution's founding fathers envisaged a "rule by majority and not by manipulated majority".
Jaitley said the Central government had "three materials (basic reasons)" to act in Uttarakhand and recommend President's Rule.
"Everyone spoke about the floor test. But what happens if the Assembly Speaker refuses a floor test? And then, he manipulates and changes the character of the Assembly itself," Jaitley said.
The minister said when the State Budget could not be passed by the Assembly on March 18, nine rebel Congress MLAs could have been disqualified under the Anti-Defection Act the same day. "The State government should have also resigned as the Budget had failed."
