The BJP on Wednesday sought to claim credit for the Union Cabinet’s decision to withdraw the Ordinance on convicted lawmakers, immediately prompting the Congress to allege that the Opposition party had shifted the goalpost.
BJP spokesperson Meenakshi lekhi claimed it was because of her party’s opposition and people’s opinion that the Government decided to withdraw the bill. “It is not Rahul Gandhi’s decision because his opinion is what Congress opinion was. So it is not the initiative of Rahul Gandhi. It is the opinion of the Supreme Court, the people and the pressure exerted by the Opposition, which has won,” she said.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal nath, however, claimed the BJP was initially in favour of dealing and addressing the Supreme Court’s order on section 8(4) of the Representation of People’s Act, which was struck down by the Supreme Court, but changed their position later.
“BJP reposition themselves. They will posture, they will pose, they will do something in the meeting, something in the public and something else privately. That’s an old style of of the BJP,” Nath said.
The Minister said that two all-party meetings were held on August 1 and on August 13 and they were supporting that Government should bring an amendment including a Constitutional amendment.
Nath said the issue was discussed in the Business Advisory Committee of Rajya Sabha where the BJP and all parties agreed that it should be listed and so it was introduced in the Upper House.
“Ever since Rahul Gandhi said that this must be reviewed, the BJP has taken a different line altogether. That is unfortunate part of it. This is very old style of functioning of BJP---say one thing at one place and say another at another,” he said.
Nath also sought to give an impression that the decision to bring the ordinance was not the decision of Congress but also of all other parties.
“Cabinet took a decision and at the back of that was all-party meeting, two of them had taken that position that modify 8(4). That was the decision taken by the Cabinet...The bill has gone to Standing Committee. So that will take its own course, own rules. let us see what happens in the Cabinet meeting,” he said.
lekhi, however, accused Nath of engaging in “doublespeak”.
“BJP was not in favour of Constitutional amendment to protect the tainted MPs, MlAs. Arun Jaitley stated that if you are going to bring that bill without referring to Standing Committee, then I am going to strike on this too hard,” she said, accusing the Congress of “trying to distort the facts”.