Sat Feb 15 12:13:27 UTC 2025: **Congress Rebukes BJP After Manipur President’s Rule**
NEW DELHI – The Congress party has accused the BJP of hypocrisy after the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur, a state governed by the BJP, following 21 months of unresolved conflict. This action, the Congress argues, is an admission of the BJP government’s failure to maintain law and order.
Prime Minister Modi recently criticized the Congress for its historical use of Article 356 (President’s Rule), claiming it was invoked 90 times, with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi alone responsible for 50 instances. The Congress counters that President’s Rule has been imposed 134 times since 1950, frequently targeting opposition parties. While acknowledging instances where ruling parties dismissed their own state governments due to crises, the Congress highlights the BJP’s current situation as a prime example of the misuse of Article 356.
The Congress cites several historical examples of President’s Rule being imposed under various circumstances, including the 1973 Andhra Pradesh separation movement, the 1974 student protests in Gujarat, the 1983 Punjab militancy, and the 1959 dismissal of Kerala’s first democratically elected Communist government. They also point to instances where the Janata Party and Indira Gandhi’s government used Article 356 against opposing state governments. The Congress further notes the dismissal of BJP state governments in 1992 following the Babri Masjid demolition.
The Congress’s response to the Manipur situation underscores a significant political clash over the use and abuse of Article 356, with both parties citing historical precedent to support their claims. The opposition party now uses the BJP’s actions in Manipur to challenge the BJP’s previous criticisms.
First Piper 