Rahul Gandhi has reportedly clarified that his public censure was not meant to undermine the authority of the PM or his cabinet. (File Pic)
In a meeting with the Prime Minister this morning, Congress vice-president
Rahul Gandhi reportedly expressed his regret for the language and timing of his very public attack on an ordinance that was cleared by the cabinet, according to sources.
This was shortly before PM, Sonia Gandhi and other top Congress leaders met and formally decided to withdraw the controversial ordinance to protect convicted lawmakers. The same group of leaders had earlier cleared the ordinance.
Sources say while Mr Gandhi clarified that his public censure was not meant to undermine the authority of the PM or his cabinet, he remains firmly opposed to executive order that allows convicted MPs to remain in office while their appeal is being heard by a higher court.
The PM was reportedly satisfied with Mr Gandhi's explanation, sources added.
Mr Gandhi's scathing review of the executive order - he dismissed it as 'nonsense' - came while the PM was in the United States; his timing and his action severely undermined Dr Singh, the opposition has alleged.
(Rahul insulted PM, sack him: BJP to Sonia)But the PM indicated last evening that it was the timing of Mr Gandhi's review - and not its content - that was a matter of concern. Speaking to reporters on his plane on his way back from New York, he said he would not resign over the controversy. He also stressed that the ordinance had been cleared by senior leaders of the Congress. That group includes Mr Gandhi's mother and party president Sonia Gandhi.
(PM indicates unhappiness with timing of Rahul's outburst)"I have seen Mr Rahul Gandhi's statement. When issues are raised in democratic polity, the right course is to discuss the issues...There is no question of resigning," the PM said, adding that he is "not the master of what people say."
He will spend the day in a series of meetings that will focus on the contentious ordinance. The PM will also meet the President of the country, who has received the ordinance and has reportedly shared grave reservations about it.
Later, a cabinet meeting is expected to decide to abandon the ordinance, a decision that is seen by many as a mere formality after Mr Gandhi's censure last week.