like crores of Indians, I welcome the decision of the Union Cabinet to withdraw the controversial ordinance on convicted lawmakers as well as the Bill that sought to amend the Representation of the People Act.
Days ago, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had said that the ordinance providing shelter to convicted MPs and MlAs must be torn up. It was widely criticised. The main Opposition, the BJP, had slammed Mr Gandhi's statement for undermining Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
As soon as Mr Singh returned from the US, he called a meeting of the Union Cabinet, and the ordinance was taken back ‘unanimously'. The decision of the Government must be welcomed, but it would be too early to say if this alone will cleanse the political system. The Supreme Court's verdict to disqualify the convicted lawmakers should be protected for good. No attempt should be made to dilute the judgement by any means in future. If our lawmakers try that, they will fail again.