Rahul trashes ordinance: What forced him to create a scene?

Zee Media Bureau/Himanshu Kapoor

New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi on Friday rejected it, ordinance on convicted lawmakers, and termed it as `nonsense` negating the Supreme Court verdict. After the government had sent the ordinance to President Pranab Mukherjee for his assent, Rahul on Friday appeared before the press in a hurry and created a scene. Also, what`s interesting is that the Congress vice president chose to voice his opposition to the ordinance at a time when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was out of the country. Rahul`s statement surely left the Manmohan`s position undermined. Though, he assured the prime minister that it was not his intention. In the letter to the Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi wrote: "I realize that what I feel about the Ordinance is not in harmony with the Cabinet decision and the Core Group`s view. I also know it would be exploited by our political opponents. You know that I have the highest respect for you and I look up to you for your wisdom. I have nothing but the greatest admiration for the manner in which you are providing leadership in extremely difficult circumstances. I hope you will understand the strength of my own conviction about this very controversial issue." So what prompted Rahul to stun the audience at the press meet and cause a major embarrassment to the Congress-led UPA II Government? And where was he the Core Committee gave the go ahead? Perhaps, Rahul drew a conclusion that President Pranab Mukherjee might not give his assent to the ordinance on convicted lawmakers. Anyhow, his dramatic intervention has set many wondering what course of action the prime minister will take. Now, the speculations are high that the government may take back the controversial measure while maintaining the dignity of the prime minister. The ordinance seeks to reverse the Supreme Court judgement that had not only disqualified lawmakers convicted of offences with two years or more in jail, but also barred from contesting elections. Rahul Gandhi who speaks very little, yesterday said too much.