Congress claims to have the majority in Arunachal

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday said it commanded a majority in the Arunachal Pradesh assembly and the Centre's decision to impose president's rule in the northeastern state was a "shameful example of coercive federalism".

The decision to dislodge an elected Congress government on the Republic Day was "an open and dastardly murder of democracy", party spokesperson Raj Babbar said in a statement here.

He also accused state Governor Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa of "premeditated malice".

"The Congress has full faith in the judiciary. Constitutional norms, democracy and federalism will win at the altar of justice. Conspiracy to debunk democracy and murder of federalism will be defeated substantively," he said.

Babbar said despite an "ugly game of destabilising, inducement and subversion", the Congress still had a clear majority and a strength of 31 MLAs in the house of 60 members in Arunachal Pradesh.

He said the Congress had 47 MLAs in the state assembly, "out of which two resigned and 14 disqualified in accordance with provisions of the anti-defection law".

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Centre on a plea challenging the imposition of President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh on January 26 and gave it time till January 29 to file its response.

The union cabinet on Sunday had decided to impose President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh. (IANS)