U’khand MLAs take out march to Rashtrapati Bhawan

New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs from Uttarakhand took out a march from Vijay Chowk to Rashtrapati Bhawan here on Monday to meet President Pranab Mukherjee over the ongoing political crisis in the state.

They were also seen arguing with the police officials, who were initially apprehensive to allow the march to be held at the Vijay Chowk, which is close to the Parliament and the Prime Minister’s Office.

“We are carrying out this march to save the state. There is a Constitutional crisis in the state. We are going to the President for this,” BJP leader Ajay Bhat, who is part of the march, told the media here.

Bhat had earlier today said that they would urge President Mukherjee to order a floor test at the earliest as Chief Minister Rawat is resorting to unfair tactics to lure the rebel Congress MLAs.

Meanwhile, the Congress has cracked the whip following the rebellion by its nine MLAs in Uttarakhand and expelled Vijay Bahuguna’s son Saket and state organisation secretary Anil Gupta for six years on charges of anti-party activities.

Rebel Congress MLA Harak Singh Rawat earlier wrote to Uttarakhand Governor K.K. Paul, urging him to call an Assembly Session tomorrow for the floor test.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who was set to arrive in the national capital today to discuss the political crisis in the state with the Congress leadership, has been asked by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi to stay put and handle the situation there. (ANI)