The ordinance was decried by the main political opposition as unconstitutional. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
NEW DELHI: India's government took a U-turn Wednesday on a move to protect convicted lawmakers after ruling Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi blasted the policy as "nonsense" in comments that opened up a rift with the prime minister.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's cabinet approved an executive order last month intended to overturn a Supreme Court ruling that national and state lawmakers convicted of serious crimes should be ejected from public office.
Following a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Manish Tewari acknowledged Gandhi's opposition, and said that "under those circumstances the decision was reconsidered" and the order, also called an ordinance, had been taken back.
The ordinance was decried by the main political opposition as unconstitutional, and condemned by anti-corruption activists who questioned the government's commitment to battling growing graft in India ahead of elections next year.
The Congress party had earlier moved a bill in parliament to protect lawmakers, but was unable to pass it. The bill will also be withdrawn in the upcoming winter session of the national assembly.
Gandhi, number two in the Congress party and chief election campaigner for Congress, dismissed the executive order last week as "complete nonsense" while Singh was on a US visit.
Singh met Gandhi, the new generation of the Gandhi-Nehru political dynasty, at his home on Wednesday morning for about 30 minutes, where the young leader reportedly apologised for the bluntness of his comments.
Amid speculation about his future, Singh stated there was "no question of resigning" as he returned from meetings with US President Barack Obama and Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.
He also said that the ordinance had been discussed twice in cabinet and approved by the Congress party high command, headed by Gandhi's mother Sonia, which raised questions as to why Rahul had waited to air his opposition publicly.
The cabinet's ordinance would have shielded government ally Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was convicted this week of corruption. But some observers said it sent the wrong message before elections next year when graft is set to be a key issue.
"Better late than never," said Rajnath Singh, chief of main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the cabinet decision.
The government had argued that the Supreme Court ruling barring convicted law makers from office was unfair because it did not take into account if they had appealed against their sentences.
Ministers also said that MPs were often targeted in frivolous legal cases which could lead to them being unfairly disqualified.
Disqualification would only apply for serious crimes carrying a sentence of more than three years.
COMMENTS (6)
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Congress has capacity and responsibile to people of India. Reversing of such decision is part of maturing and consolidating democratic & secular values in India. BJP , RSS can also take leaf or two from this , by apologising all riots , demolitions done by them . India would be better place , if RSS , BJP gives its communal agenda, avoids making tall claims on so-called development and behave like mature/ responsible opposition party. By opposing GST , FDI in retail exposes double speak and duplicity of the "decisive" leadership of BJP .
Hopefully Indians are sane enough not to elect anyone from Gandhi family anymore. If you don;t like Modi vote for Kejriwal, but seriously your coming generations will suffer if Congress is ever again elected under Gandhi family leadership.
@Raj - USA He might be sincere, but this looks more like a political stunt to me to win votes in the upcoming elections of 2014. Besides Rahul Gandhi is too dumb to be an effective politician; one who can transform India. Nevermind India, I doubt if Rahul Gandhi even has any weight in his own organisation. Each & every decision is still taken by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul really has no say in it. All of this above incident looks like a pre-planned plot to me, to project Rahul as a vibrant, young, honest leader among the masses.
Singh’s cabinet approved an executive order last month that intended to overturn a Supreme Court ruling that national and state lawmakers convicted of serious crimes should be ejected from public office. I am sure Sonia Gandhi and Rahul knew about this before hand. All is well if it ends well. I am sure Manmohan Singh was used by powerful political people in this case. It is good to see finally Lalu Prasad and other high level officials got convicted for breaking laws.
Democracy needs strong, honest media and pro active people willing to fight for justice.
There are many things I like with Rahul Gandhi and many things I do not like. This is one that I like and admire him for his courage. His spontaneous outburst shows that he deeply believe and cares in this issue. He may be carrying the burden in his minds for a long time and was ultimately not able to bear it any longer and came out bursting in the open. He is sincere on this.
What a light weight this Rahul Gandhi is- if convicted criminals are not allowed to sit in parliament, who's going to run India?!