Shiv Sena remark strains BJP ties further

In an apparent indication of strain in the relations with the BJP, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana commented that the Narendra Modi government “disrobed itself” after the Uttarakhand high court verdict on the imposition of President’s Rule in the hill state.

The Shiv Sena weekly claimed that the “Centre’s decision to impose President’s Rule in Uttarakhand has been thrown into the dustbin”. While the Centre suffered a setback after the high court verdict, the Supreme Court stayed the order on Friday. The Uttarakhand high court had on Thursday quashed the imposition of President’s Rule in the hill state.

In a hard-hitting comment, the Shiv Sena mouthpiece while welcoming the landmark verdict to restore the democratically elected state government, said the outcome following the judicial verdict also “belittled” the office of the President.

“The judiciary has thrown into the dustbin the Centre’s decision to impose the President’s Rule in Uttarakhand. It has also discredited Centre’s stand that the President had endorsed its recommendation,” said an editorial in Saamana.

It noted that the state high court’s observation that the President can err literally meant the Modi government has committed a mistake by imposing Central rule in the hill state.

“The Modi government tried to use the President’s office for political gains but were prevented from doing so by the court. Thus, not only has the Centre disrobed itself, but also belittled the office of the President,” the editorial said.

“Looking from a democratic perspective, the verdict should be welcomed,” the editorial noted.

The BJP and the Shiv Sena, though being allies in the ruling NDA at the Centre and also a partner in Maharashtra, have seen ups and downs in the relations after the demise of Balasaheb Thackarey.