NEW DELHI, Oct 2: Forced by Rahul Gandhi’s open trashing of the Government, the Union Cabinet tonight decided to withdraw the controversial ordinance on convicted lawmakers as well as a related bill in the face of mounting public opinion against the measure.
In a business-like 20-minute meeting, presided over by Prime Dr Minister Manmohan Singh, the Cabinet overturned its earlier decision of September 24 to provide immunity to convicted lawmakers from immediate disqualification.
The reversal by the Cabinet is seen as a rare instance of the Government being forced to take back a measure that was cleared after much deliberations in the ruling party and the Council of Ministers after resistance from within.
The decision came on a day of hectic consultations at the highest levels in the Congress party, allies and the Government on how to bring a closure to the raging controversy after Rahul’s denunciation of the ordinance as “complete nonsense” that deserved to be “torn and thrown away”.
“The Union Cabinet at its meeting today unanimously decided that both the ordinance with regards to certain sections of the Representation of the People Act as well as the Bill would be withdrawn”, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari told reporters.
He claimed that the decision was reversed as the Government was sensitive to public opinion and was not authoritarian in nature.
At the meeting, NCP leader Sharad Pawar is understood to have criticised the events leading to the reversal of the Cabinet decision, an apparent reference Rahul’s public outburst.
He felt that institutions were being undermined when the decision on overturning the July 10 Supreme Court order which withdrew the immunity for convicted lawmakers.
Another ally, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah was also critical of the way Rahul condemned the Government in public, undermining not just the Prime Minister, but the whole Cabinet.
The Cabinet decision comes six days after Rahul pubicly denounced the ordinance cleared by the Cabinet on September 24 after approved by the Congress Core Group headed by party President Sonia Gandhi.
Rahul had said the Government was “wrong”, a criticism that was latched on to by BJP and other opposition parties which demanded resignation by the Prime Minister saying his authority had been undermined.
Rahul, whose action last week was condemned by critics as raising questions over the authority of the Prime Minister, met Singh this morning and explained the reasons why he raised the issue and the way it was done.
This was followed by a meeting of the Congress Core Group that includes Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi where they decided to give an unceremonious burial to the Ordinance and the Bill.
It was communicated to President Pranab Mukherjee, who had reservations in signing the ordinance and had raised questions with three ministers. Mukherjee left on a two-nation tour shortly later.
Then it was only a matter of formality when the Prime Minister spoke to leaders of allied parties like Pawar, Abdullah and Ajit Singh (RLD), informing them about the intent to withdraw the ordinance.
The ordinance sought to provide immunity to MPs and MLAs from immediate disqualification upon conviction, a protection that was done away with by the Supreme Court on July 10. The Court had struck down a provision in the electoral law that allowed convicted MPs and MLAs to continue in their posts if they appeal against the judgement within three months and the order was stayed.
In the morning, when Rahul met the Prime Minister, he is understood to have explained the reasons for opposing the ordinance and his reservations over the move to protect convicted lawmakers.
On the way back from the US, the Prime Minister told reporters accompanying him that he would try to find out the reason why Rahul made a public statement and “why it had to be done that way”.
Rahul had earlier this week said at a press conference that the ordinance is “complete nonsense” and should be “torn up and thrown away”.
Making it clear that he was not undermining Singh’s authority in any way, the Congress Vice President had also written a letter to the Prime Minister the same day, saying that he has the “greatest admiration” for his leadership in extremely difficult circumstances.
Many saw Rahul’s outburst on the ordinance as an embarrassment for the Prime Minister and the Opposition vociferously demanded that Singh should step down after his return. Singh also ruled out his resignation.
Notwithstanding the pressure on Congress in view of Rahul’s stand, the UPA allies like NCP are miffed over the way the issue was raked up by Rahul that had undermined the both the Government and the Prime Minister. (PTI)
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