Harish Rawat speaks to mediapersons in Dehradun on Sunday.
In a new turn to the political situation in Uttarakhand where President’s rule was imposed Sunday, the Uttarakhand High Court Tuesday ordered a floor test in the assembly on March 31.
The Harish Rawat-led Congress government was dislodged and the 70-member House — the 71st is a nominated member — placed under suspended animation after nine Congress rebel MLAs joined hands with 28 MLAs of the opposition BJP, plunging the state into crisis.
On Monday, Rawat paraded 34 MLAs before Governor K K Paul to claim he still had the numbers to lead a stable government.
Lawyer and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Rawat in the High Court, told reporters that all MLAs, including the nine Congress rebels, can participate in the trial of strength but the votes of the disqualified legislators will be kept separate.
They will be taken into account subject to the final outcome of the writ petition filed by Rawat challenging imposition of President’s rule, he said.
In Dehradun, there was lack of clarity on whether the High Court direction for a floor test meant that President’s rule had been stayed and the Rawat government restored.
The Congress indicated it will seek legal opinion on the issue of voting by the nine disqualified MLAs.
Welcoming the High Court decision, Rawat said it was a “tremendous setback” for the Centre which had “denied” him an opportunity to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
“The Congress and our government have full respect for the judiciary. We still do not have the full judgment of the High Court but the part of the order available shows that the court holds the Centre’s decision wrong,” he told reporters.
“Our fight is not against any person but the powers which are out to demolish constitutional institutions. Such powers have received a tremendous setback.” Rawat said since the nine rebel MLAs were disqualified, their votes will have no significance.
But Congress rebel MLA Umesh Sharma said he will take part in the voting on March 31. He said the Congress whip will not be applicable to him because the Speaker had disqualified him after imposition of President’s rule.
Uttarakhand BJP vice-president Kedar Joshi said he was quite hopeful that the nine rebel MLAs will continue supporting the BJP, and that the Congress will not be able to prove its majority on the floor of the House.
BJP MLA and former state unit president Teerath Singh Rawat said he has high regard for the High Court but he believes that the Congress should not be given an opportunity to prove its majority “in the current scenario”, especially in the wake of the “sting operation” which “exposed the Harish Rawat government”.
A video was released by the rebels a day before President’s rule in which they were allegedly being offered money in return for support to Rawat — a charge he denied.
Teerath Singh Rawat said the court should first clear the legislature membership status of the nine Congress rebels since they were disqualified after imposition of President’s rule.
Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhyay, welcoming the High Court decision, said it “only shows that the BJP-led government at the Centre hatched a conspiracy to dislodge an elected government”. He maintained that the Congress under Rawat will prove its majority on March 31.
It's the most challenging time of my career: Saina Nehwal
New Delhi: Left to nurse her Achilles tendons for more than six months, top shuttler Saina Nehwal on Tuesday said it was the most challenging phase of her career and exuded confidence that she is in a good shape now and looking forward to defend her title at the India Super Series.
Saina had suffered an injury after her runner-up finish at the World Championship in August last but played at the China Super Series Premier, aggravating the injury and leading to the Achilles tendons.Saina Nehwal said it was the most challenging phase of her career and exuded confidence that she is in a good shape now and looking forward to defend her title at the India Super Series.
She skipped the Hong Kong Open but participated at the BWF World Super Series Finals in December. She played a couple of matches at the Premier Badminton League (PBL) but had to skip the Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold, SAG and ABC at Hyderabad.
"It was the most difficult injury that I had in my career. Achilles tendonitis takes a lot of time. I had some issue with my shin and I came very close to having a stress fracture also," Saina said.
"After World Championship I was just going through the tournaments without any practice. I was not able to train. I had to play China and Dubai. Luckily I pulled out a match against Carolina. I also had issues with my abdomen too, so I had two bad injuries," she added.
Saina said after the China Super Series Premier she was not even able to walk as she could not put weight on the feet.
"From January, I focused on strengthening my calf muscles. I had lost momentum but after two tournaments I feel much confident now. After such major injury, I was worried about my Achilles. Every morning I was scared to put my right leg. I'm happy that there is no pain now," said the 2012 Olympics bronze medallist.
"But I have to keep on doing the strengthening because if I leave that the pain will come back. The Achilles has become prone to injuries," she said.
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