PM Modi calls emergency Cabinet meeting to discuss U’khand crisis

Ahead of the meeting, a BJP delegation met President Pranab Mukherjee and demanded President’s Rule in the state, saying Chief Minister Harish Rawat has no right to continue after a sting operation purportedly showed him bargaining with rebel party MLAs to win their support ahead of floor test on March 28.

Earlier in the day, Uttarakhand’s rebel Congress MLAs on Saturday alleged that they were offered bribe by Chief Minister Harish Rawat for support during the floor test in the Assembly on March 28 and released a video of a “sting” operation purportedly showing the CM, who called it “fake”.

Congress alleged that the “dirty tricks department” of BJP president Amit Shah is at work, while the saffron outfit demanded “immediate dismissal” of the Rawat government. Releasing the alleged sting video, former Uttarakhand CM Vijay Bahuguna, who is leading the rebel MLAs, said: “The very content of that CD proves that you (Rawat) are using undue influence and bribe to attract the nine MLAs... He should resign on moral grounds.” Rawat, meanwhile, added in Dehradun: “The sting CD being shown on news channels is fake. The reputation of the man behind it who is associated with a private news channel is not hidden from anyone. His antecedents must be probed.” Even though he called the CD “false”, Rawat said if at all it indicates something, it is that the rebel MLAs have aligned with BJP for money.

AICC’s chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said: “Congress will not be cowed down by such tactics, conspiracies and threats. Even today, the Uttarakhand government enjoys majority. We will abide by constitutional directions and will prove our majority on the floor of the House.” Reacting to the sting video, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said Rawat has “no right to remain in power” and said a party delegation will meet President Pranab Mukherjee to demand his intervention.