Cabinet withdraws ordinance on convicted lawmakers

mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Oct 2: The government has decided to withdraw a controversial ordinance that protects convicted parliamentarians and triggered a furious critique from Rahul Gandhi last week, who described the policy as "nonsense."

The reversal of policy was cleared at a Cabinet meeting this evening chaired by the Prime Minister, who met Mr Gandhi this morning.

 

The young vice-president of the Congress party reportedly expressed his regret for the timing and language of his public censure, but reiterated his staunch opposition to the order, which is seen as the catalyst for the government’s change of heart.

Mr Gandhi reportedly said that he did not mean to undermine or insult the Prime Minister of the Cabinet by going public with his review at a time when Dr Manmohan Singh was in the US for a trip that included meetings with President Obama and Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif.

After that, the Prime Minister met President Pranab Mukherjee and reportedly informed him of his decision to rescind the ordinance. The President had expressed serious reservations about the ordinance when it was sent to him for his assent last week.

The ordinance provoked criticism from Opposition parties and the public as an attempt to override a Supreme Court decision that disqualifies MPs and state legislators from office if they are convicted in criminal cases.

The Congress has tried to justify the reversal of policy, with spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury saying, "It’s collective wisdom. We got feedback from across the country."

Ahead of the Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today talked to allies, informing them about the intent to withdraw the controversial Ordinance on convicted lawmakers.

Among the allies Singh contacted were NCP chief Sharad Pawar and RLD leader Ajit Singh, sources said.

When contacted, Ajit Singh said he is in favour of withdrawal of the Ordinance as also the Bill which seeks to protect convicted lawmakers from immediate disqualification.

"We welcome the withdrawal of the Ordinance. We opposed it in all-party meeting also," he told

He attacked BJP, saying the party supported it in the all-party meeting as also the Bill in Lok Sabha but changed its stand in Rajya Sabha.

"If BJP can change its mind, why can’t Congress? It should be withdrawn," the RLD chief said.