New Delhi
The Lok Sabha on Friday adopted a resolution on imposition of President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir, with the Centre asserting that it was committed to democratic process in the state after the Opposition termed the decision to dissolve the Assembly as “unconstitutional”.

As Opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress and NCP, questioned imposition of the President’s rule and dissolution of the J&K Assembly, Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the House that no party was in a position to form government even a day before December 19, when the Governor took the decision.

He also rejected claims of some Opposition parties that the BJP was propping up a regional party to form government, saying if his party had such an intention, it would have done so within six months of the Governor’s Rule.

“The government doesn’t conduct elections but the government is ready for election. It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to hold elections… we are totally committed to democratic process,” he said.

The Minister assured the House that security requirement of the Election Commission will be met for free and fair Assembly election in the state.

Soon after imposition of the Governor’s rule in June, Singh said, the Governor’s report of June 19 to the President indicated that no party or coalition of parties in the state was in a position to form government.

The Governor’s rule was imposed in these conditions, he said, adding the Assembly was not dissolved for six months in anticipation of formation of government in the state.

The President’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir follows if the Governor’s rule extends beyond six months. The Statutory Resolution will now go to the Rajya Sabha for approval.

Initiating the debate, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said Governor Satya Pal Malik acted in “gross violation” of the Supreme Court order in S R Bommai case that had stated that whether an alliance has a majority or not can be decided only on the floor of the Assembly.

Malik’s decision to impose the Governor’s rule after the NC, PDP and the Congress made a move to form the government in the state was also in “violation” of the Sarkaria Commission’s guidelines on Centre-state relations, he said.