Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja on Thursday welcomed the Congress-led UPA Government's move to withdraw the ordinance on convicted lawmakers, saying it was not in tune with the ideas of growing and upcoming Indian nation.
Raja, who was talking to media here, said finally good sense has prevailed upon the government.
"They had to retreat because there was overwhelming outcry all over the country by the people, by all political parties against this ordinance. There was no urgency; there was no necessity to bring such an ordinance. This ordinance doesn't go in tune with the ideas of growing and upcoming Indian nation, which should have good governance free from corruption and good governance with transparency," said Raja.
"And the fight against criminalization has become imperative to make India a good nation. And in this context, the government which tried to bring the ordinance was not in the sync with the mood of the people," he added.
The UPA Government yesterday decided to withdraw a controversial ordinance that protects convicted parliamentarians.
The reversal of policy was cleared at a short Cabinet meeting last evening, chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
"Having regard to the various concerns, which have been expressed in relation to the validity and advisability of the proposed Ordinance seeking to amend the Representation of People's Act, the Cabinet has decided to withdraw the proposal for promulgating the Ordinance as well as the Bill," said a Cabinet release.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari yesterday defended the Cabinet's decision to withdraw the ordinance, and said the decision reflected that the UPA Government was democratic and not authoritarian in nature.
Responding to a question, Tewari said that the decision has been taken in view of public opinion and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi did not undermine the Prime Minister's authority by raising the issue.
He said that Rahul Gandhi may have got feedback from the people to form his opinion.
In a major embarrassment to the ruling UPA, Rahul Gandhi had earlier on September 27 dubbed the ordinance to negate the Supreme Court verdict on convicted lawmakers as 'complete nonsense', and said it should be torn up and thrown away.
"I personally think what the government is doing on the ordinance is wrong. It was a political decision, every party does it, and there is a time to stop this nonsense," he had said.
