2 min readNew DelhiSep 28, 2013 04:42 AM IST
First published on: Sep 28, 2013 at 04:42 AM IST
While Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi Friday criticised the governments decision to promulgate an ordinance to nullify the effect of the July 10 judgment of the Supreme Court,he chose to not explain why he had kept quiet so far.
It could not have been lack of adequate opportunities that prevented him from intervening to stall events leading up to the September 24 decision of the Union Cabinet to clear an ordinance.
On September 21,the Congress core group met in New Delhi to discuss the ordinance. Sources said Rahul,while not a member of the core group,considering his position in the party,could have intervened in the matter,like he did when the core group met to discuss the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition,Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill,2013.
There have been instances in the recent past where Rahul has personally spoken to senior ministers or sent messages through Congress leaders on important issues. However,in the case of the ordinance,there was no view from his side, said a Congress leader.
A Congress minister also pointed out that even now the Gandhi family scion has not clarified if he is opposed to just the ordinance or also the Representation of the People Second Amendment and Validation Bill,2013 introduced in Parliament on August 30. Incidentally,the ordinance,which is now pending with the President for his assent,is a copy of the Bill.
There is no clarity from his side. He makes a sudden appearance,says some sentences and then leaves. I hope,in his letter to the Prime Minister,he has indicated whether he wants the government to go ahead with the Bill or not, said a Congress leader,who didnt wish to be named.
Not only the Congress vice-president did not react when the Law Ministry was finalising the ordinance,he also didnt intervene in the matter when the Bill was being finalised or before or after the Cabinet cleared it for introduction in Parliament.
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