(From Left) Vice President Hamid Ansari, PM Manmohan Singh, Law Minister Kapil Sibal and President Pranab Mukherjee.
The old order has collapsed. The cynical politics of coalition arithmetic has given in to the public mood and the 'no-nonsense new leader' of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi. The Cabinet that vetted and cleared the ordinance to protect convicted politicians will meet on Thursday evening to do what Rahul ordered: Junk the ordinance. The government not only withdrew the ordinance, but also the bill that was presented in parliament. Barring a few, all parties had given their consent. Though it has shamed the Congress party and the government no end but in the end the ordinance debacle would make the other Gandhi, the Mahatma, proud on his birth anniversary.
The Congress Core Group that had pushed the ordinance asked the government to pull it out. They had taken the allies on board when they had to press for it, the core group on Wednesday asked the government to convince them about the pullout as well. Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh was hard to convince but could do little. His party even called the move to withdraw the ordinance a conspiracy against democracy.
Before the core group met to eat crow for breakfast, Rahul Gandhi met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The 25-minute meeting was the first since the Congress vice-president had virtually assaulted the Cabinet decision to promulgate the ordinance, which he called 'nonsense' that should be torn and thrown out. Rebel Redux: Watch Rahul stir it up
The Prime Minister was away in New York and Rahul Gandhi's outburst had caused huge embarrassment, both to the government and the party. It was being seen as a direct attack on the Prime Minister. The Tragedy Of Being Manmohan: From Doctor Dutiful To Doctor Nonsense
But sources say on Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi told Manmohan that his intention was not to embarrass him but to express the public sentiment. The Prime Minister was upset but not enough to put up a fight or quit. Manmohan Singh then went to Rashtrapati Bhavan to apprise President Pranab Mukherjee of the government's decision to withdraw the ordinance. And the PM takes this too in his stride
President Mukherjee had delayed signing the ordinance after his advisers told him that the ordinance would be challenged. He summoned at least three senior ministers of the Cabinet and expressed his discomfort in signing unto law an ordinance with such suspect constitutionality.
Law Minister Kapil Sibal met the Prime Minister late on Tuesday night, soon after the latter returned from the US, and handed over a brief note on the ordinance.
The note talked about the circumstances under which the ordinance was brought and possible options in coming days. It is understood that Manmohan Singh discussed the note with Rahul and clarified his position. In return, Rahul reportedly explained his outburst to Manmohan Singh.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi
The ordinance could have given succour to Congress ally Lalu Prasad and Congressman Rasheed Masood, but for Rahul Gandhi's intervention. Masood became the first victim of the Supreme Court order on July 10 that meant immediate disqualification of MPs or MLAs if they are convicted of an offence punishable with imprisonment of more than two years.
The ordinance was planned to do away with the Supreme Court order. Now, Lalu Prasad may join Masood as he faces time in jail. He has already been sent to jail after being convicted in the fodder scam.
The nonsense ordinance drama has ended. This may just be the beginning of India's long road ahead as far as cleansing its politics goes.
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