President's Rule in Uttarakhand, CM blasts BJP

Speaking to reporters after meeting Governor K.K. Paul, the chief minister did not spare the central government and Prime Minister Modi too. Modi had the "blood of the aspirations of the people of Uttarakhand on his hands", he said, alleging that the BJP-led central government slashed the budget for his state and even cut funds for the restoration of the Kedarnath temple, devastated by the 2013 flash floods, and the Kumbh Mela. He hinted that the Congress may move court against the decision to impose President's Rule.

The crisis in the state began when nine Congress legislators, including former chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, who Rawat replaced, revolted against the chief minister and turned to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was happy to support them. Before the rebellion, the Congress had 36 members in the 70-member house and the BJP 31. With nine of its lawmakers aligning with the BJP, the Congress was left with 27 and six from smaller parties backing the Rawat government. The chief minister was asked to prove his majority on Monday but the central government decided to act a day earlier.

IANS