NEW DELHI, Feb 17 - The Supreme Court today ordered a status quo on Arunachal Pradesh amid deepening political crisis in the State.
However, there was confusion over the Union Cabinet�s reported recommendation about revocation of President�s Rule in the State in a hush-hush manner.
Union Communication Minister and Cabinet spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad, who briefed newsmen here, when asked about Arunachal Pradesh said that issue did not come up in the Cabinet discussion, but confirmed that there were some privilege communication between the Governor and President, which he would not like to disclose. But the AIR website reported that the Union Cabinet had today recommended revocation of President�s Rule in Arunachal Pradesh, a day after the Supreme Court refused to restrain the Governor from swearing-in of a new government in the State, nearly 22 days after the State was placed under President�s Rule on January 26.
However, within hours, the Apex Court said it wanted to examine records pertaining to disqualification of 14 rebel Congress MLAs by Assembly Speaker and told Secretary General of Arunachal Pradesh Assembly and the Gauhati High Court to provide the records by Thursday.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday refused to restrain Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa from swearing-in a new State government.
Congress breakaway faction leader Kalikho Pul had marched with 31 MLAs to the Raj Bhavan to stake claim for forming the next government. He was accompanied by 19 rebel Congress MLAs, along with 11 BJP legislators and two Independent members.
Congress, which had 47 MLAs in the 60-member Assembly, suffered a jolt when 21 of its lawmakers rebelled. Eleven BJP MLAs and two Independents backed the rebels in the bid to upstage the government. Later, 14 rebel Congress MLAs were disqualified by the Speaker.