Cabinet defers taking up anti-graft ordinances

The union cabinet Friday deferred taking up the anti-graft ordinances which were being pushed by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

The cabinet decided to postpone taking up the ordinances, informed sources said.

The ordinances on the Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill and the Right of Citizens for Time-Bound Delivery of Goods and Services and Redressal of their Grievances Bill were on the agenda but were not taken up.

These were among the anti-corruption bills being pushed by Gandhi to create a "framework" to fight graft.

Sources in the Congress said the issue concerning ordinances was discussed at the party's core committee meeting Friday evening.

They said there was a view in the party that issuing ordinances before the announcement of the schedule for the Lok Sabha elections may become a political issue during the campaign with the opposition trying to score brownie points.

The schedule for the polls is expected to be announced next week.

The proposed legislations could not be passed during the extended winter session of parliament.

The president prorogued both houses of parliament Thursday leading to speculation that the ordinances might be on the anvil.