President's rule in Arunachal, assembly in suspended animation

New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday gave his approval to the cabinet recommendation to impose central rule in Arunachal Pradesh and keep the legislative assembly in suspended animation.

"President of India has signed a proclamation under article 356(1) of the constitution, imposing President's Rule in relation to the state of Arunachal Pradesh and keeping the legislative assembly of the State in suspended animation with effect from January 26," said a home ministry statement.

"Taking cognisance of the constitutional breakdown that has taken place in the state as reported by the governor of Arunachal Pradesh, the union cabinet in its meeting held on January 24, had recommend to the President to issue such proclamation," it added.

The president, who had been urged by the Congress not to approve central rule in the state, is said to have discussed the Arunachal situation with Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday.

Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa had on December 9 advanced the date of the convening of the assembly session.

The move was criticized by the Congress, with its leader Kapil Sibal saying the governor should not have acted on a resolution by the Bharatiya Janata Party legislators and two independents.

On January 18, the Supreme Court said it would examine whether Rajkhowa's decision of advancing the assembly session to December 16 to take up the resolution for the removal of Speaker Nabam Rebia was valid or not.

Rebia was removed as speaker by 14 rebel Congress legislators backed by BJP legislators on December 16 at an assembly session held in a community hall in Itanagar that was presided over by the deputy speaker.

The 14 rebel Congress lawmakers were earlier disqualified by Rebia. The deputy speaker, before moving the motion removing Rebia as speaker, restored the membership of the 14 legislators.