Rahul could have handled lawmakers' ordinance issue better:

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Jan 19 2014 | 10:35 PM IST
Rahul Gandhi could have handled the lawmakers' ordinance issue better in September last year when he had made a surprise appearance at a press meet to denounce it as "complete nonsense", senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said today.
"There are some issues which could have been handled better," Singh told Karan Thapar on the 'Devil's Advocate' programme on TV news channel CNN-IBN.
Singh was responding to general criticism of Gandhi that he lacked judgement and cited the Congress Vice President's attack against the UPA government's ordinance at the press meet which was being held by party general secretary Ajay Maken.
Singh said "exactly" when repeatedly asked whether he was clearly accepting that Gandhi could have handled it much better.
"All people, young people are boisterous. Therefore, don't blame them for that... What I am trying to say is that it is good to be the way he behaves," Singh said.
An unexpected and blunt attack by Gandhi on the ordinance to protect convicted lawmakers had caused political tremors.
Using tough language, Gandhi had made a rare and dramatic appearance before journalists at the Delhi Press Club to denounce the ordinance as "complete nonsense" and call for the document to be "torn up and thrown away".
When repeatedly asked as to why Congress was refusing to declare Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate, Singh said, "This has never been a tradition of Congress party to designate a prime minister in-waiting."
"(It was done) only in 2009, because an incumbent prime minister was interested in a second term," he said.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jan 19 2014 | 10:35 PM IST

Next Story