On Friday, Rahul Gandhi described the ordinance that offers protection to convicted parliamentarians as “nonsense.” (File Pic)
The BJP today told Sonia Gandhi that contrary to what she publicly alleged, it is not the opposition but her own son, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, who has disrespected the Prime Minister.
"If Sonia Gandhi has any concern regarding the respect of the Prime Minister, she should ask the Congress Vice-President to resign or tender an apology," said BJP president Rajnath Singh. "The BJP did not disrespect the Prime Minister, but the Congress Vice-President disrespected him," he added.
At a rally in Karnataka yesterday, Mrs Gandhi, who is president of the Congress, said that though the BJP "mocks the Prime Minister," it should be aware that Dr Manmohan Singh has the full support of his party which admires his leadership.
(They mock PM, but party stands by him: Sonia)Her comments were seen as a much-needed endorsement of the PM days after Mr Gandhi appeared to publicly undermine him by ridiculing an executive order that was cleared by him. The ordinance offers protection to convicted parliamentarians by allowing them to remain in office, without a salary or voting rights, while their appeal is being heard by a higher court.
Mr Gandhi on Friday gave the ordinance an unrestrained F grade describing it as "nonsense" which should be "torn up and thrown away."
(Rahul Gandhi calls ordinance on convicted lawmakers 'nonsense'; huge embarrassment for PM)
Ministers close to Dr Singh pointed out that Mrs Gandhi had attended a meeting of senior party leaders that had cleared the ordinance.
The opposition attacked Mr Gandhi for demeaning the PM while he was abroad attending the UN General Assembly in New York. Today, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said that Mr Gandhi's actions were more damaging for the country than the contentious ordinance.
The government introduced the ordinance -which has been submitted to the President - to circumvent a Supreme Court judgement to disqualify any MP found guilty in a criminal case carrying a sentence of more than two years.
Government sources say that a cabinet meeting tomorrow is likely to withdraw or cancel the ordinance.