AAP files petition in SC challenging government's decision to impose President's rule in Delhi

New Delhi, Feb. 20 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and advocate Prashant Bhushan on Thursday said that the party has filed a petition in the Supreme Court to direct the Central government and lieutenant governor to dissolve the Delhi Assembly, and order for fresh elections in the capital.

"Today an important petition has been filed in the Supreme Court by the AAP, in which we have challenged the decision of the Central government and lieutenant governor to impose President's rule in Delhi," said Bhushan,

"After the resignation of the AAP government, which had also recommended the dissolution of the assembly and call for fresh elections, imposing President's rule means violating the democratic rights of the people of Delhi," he said.

He further added that this decision by the central government had been taken to influence the ongoing criminal investigations.

"It appears to have been done in order to influence the ongoing criminal investigations in several FIRs, which have been registered regarding CWG, the Jal board, as well as the recent gas price hike," Bhushan said.

"What is also very remarkable is that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which said that they were not in a position to form a government in Delhi, have not raised the issue of calling for fresh elections, or about the dissolution of the assembly," he said.

"They seem to be very happy with the decision, and have supported the Congress to postpone the elections. Therefore, we have challenged the decision, and have filed a petition against it so that, the democratic rights of the people are respected, and there is an elected government in Delhi," he added.

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Delhi Chief Minister after the Assembly session was adjourned sine die following protests by the opposition over the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Kejriwal also said that the Delhi Assembly should be immediately dissolved, and demanded for re-elections in the state.

He claimed that Congress and BJP joined hands to stop the Jan Lokpal Bill because they were aware that most of their members would be jailed on charges of corruption if this Bill gets passed. (ANI)