Kamal Nath accuses BJP of doublespeak on ordinance

Says it is unfortunate that ever since Rahul Gandhi raised the matter, the BJP has taken a different stand

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the all-party meeting had supported the ordinance that proposes to protect convicted lawmakers and has changed stand after Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi raised the issue, union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said here Wednesday.

"In the business advisory committee meeting in the Rajya Sabha, they (BJP) had unanimously agreed to the ordinance and so it was introduced in the Rajya Sabha," he said.

Flashing a copy of the minutes of the meeting, Kamal Nath said: "It is unfortunate that ever since Rahul Gandhi raised the matter, the BJP has taken a different stand. This is the old style of BJP's functioning to say one thing in the public and another in private."

The parliamentary affairs minister said the cabinet will be discussing the ordinance Wednesday evening.

"The ordinance was passed by the cabinet based on the decision of the all-party meeting and now the cabinet will meet to take a final call," he said.

Rahul Gandhi earlier rubbished the ordinance, saying that it was "complete nonsense" and should be "torn up and thrown away".

The remark created a political storm, with the BJP demanding that the prime minister should step down.

Manmohan Singh said Tuesday he would not quit over the perceived undermining of his authority and that of his cabinet by Rahul Gandhi.