Cabinet likely to reverse ordinance decision

The Union cabinet is likely to meet on October 3 or 4 to deliberate on withdrawal of the controversial ordinance on convicted lawmakers, which Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi described on Friday as “complete nonsense”.

Amid the obvious indications on the change of direction on the ordinance following Rahul’s outburst, government sources said that the Cabinet would take the issue when it “meets next time”.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said Gandhi expressed the view held by many in the party, suggesting that the government should have a “re-look” at the ordinance issue.

His deputy Rajiv Shukla said the party’s job is to give directions to the government.
“In the last six decades, there were many occasions when the party made the government change its stand. The party’s job is to give direction to the government and the government owes an explanation to the party since the party is the one that decides the policies and guides the government,” he said. The government should give weightage to suggestions given by the party.

Nath, who met President Pranab Mukherjee to explain the rationale behind bringing the ordinance, downplayed the change in the party stand.

“It’s only normal and natural that there will be divergence in views. It has happened in the past and the prime minister is responding. It is our party,” Nath said.

“It is his view and he has expressed the view of many in the party, so obviously suggesting that the government should have a re-look at it. The prime minister said that he will address the issue, when he is back (from the US),” he said.