Arun Jaitley refutes government's claim that he supported moves to protect convicted lawmakers
Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley has slammed allegations that he had supported a controversial move to override a Supreme Court order to protect convicted parliamentarians, after the government revealed written details of two all-party meetings to expose what they call the BJP's 'double-speak'.
"Sushma Swaraj and I categorically informed the government that we were opposed to the passage of this amendment," Mr Jaitley told NDTV, referring to the government's Bill to amend the law and allow convicted lawmakers to remain in office while their appeal is heard by a higher court.
The Bill, introduced by the government on August 30 in Rajya Sabha, was opposed by the BJP in what the ruling Congress called a volte face.
The government claims both the BJP and Left had supported its move in the all-party meetings on August 1 and August 13. (
read)
Written details claim that BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said on August 13 that convicted lawmakers should not be disqualified but remain in office without the right to vote or participate in legislation. The minutes of the August 1 meeting claim that BJP leader Arun Jaitley said Constitutional amendments would be needed.
Calling it 'misinformation', Mr Jaitley said in the meetings, only various options were discussed and the government had conveyed that it would finalise the proposal and refer it to a standing committee of Parliament.
He also said he had opposed the government's plan of a Constitutional amendment as public opinion would disapprove of it.
The BJP leader said he was "shocked" when the Ordinance was issued even though a Bill was before the Standing Committee.
The government on Wednesday scrapped the ordinance and decided to withdraw the Bill, propelled by Rahul Gandhi's public denouncement of the ordinance as 'complete nonsense', which embarrassed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a high profile foreign visit. (
read: govt scraps ordinance)
Mr Jaitley said Rahul Gandhi's intervention came too late and destroyed the credibility of the government and the PM. "the ordinance was withdrawn as the family overruled the government. It's a tragedy that the PM is not the master."
On Thursday, Mr Gandhi admitted that his words were wrong, but said his sentiment wasn't. (
read Rahul Gandhi's comments)