NEW DELHI (AA) – A scion of India's Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has blasted as "nonsense" a controversial ordinance that would allow federal and state legislators to remain in office even if found guilty of crimes punishable by up to two years in jail.
"I will tell you what is my opinion on the ordinance. It is complete nonsense," Rahul Gandhi, deputy leader of India's ruling Congress Party, told a press conference on Friday.
He added: "It should be torn up and thrown away."
The ordinance, passed by the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, allows convicted lawmakers to remain in office and stand for election. The controversial decree now awaits the approval of President Pranab Mukherjee.
The ordinance comes in the wake of a July ruling by the Indian Supreme Court stipulating that no member of parliament or the state legislature can continue in his or her elected office if found guilty of any criminal offence that carries a sentence of two or more years in prison.
The verdict stressed that elected representatives should be disbarred from office during their appeal hearings and could only return to office if found not guilty by court.
Before the ruling, many politicians convicted of serious offences, including murder and kidnapping, had continued to hold office after filing appeals with higher courts – a process that can often take years before final verdicts are issued.
"I am interested in what the Congress Party is doing and what our government is doing. That is why what our government has done as far as this ordinance is concerned is wrong," Gandhi said. "It is time to stop this nonsense – political parties, mine and all others."
"If you want to fight corruption in the country, whether it is Congress Party or Bharatiya Janata Party, we cannot continue making these small compromises. Because if we make these small compromises, then we compromise everywhere," he added.
The cabinet's ordinance comes only days before the Jharkhand High Court is due to issue a ruling in the 'Fodder Scam' case, in which Laloo Prasad Yadav – who heads the Rashtriya Janata Dal, a key constituent of the UPA coalition – is a defendant.
The case was filed against Laloo in 1996 for the alleged embezzlement of funds intended for the purchase of fodder worth Rs 9.7 billion at the time (and which today amounts to about Rs 20 billion, or some $33 billion).
by Soni Sinha
englishnews@aa.com.tr
