SEPT 28- Initially taken aback by the tone, tenor and timing of Rahul Gandhi’s outburst against the Ordinance seeking to amend the Representation of the People Act, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has promised that “the issue raised” will be considered after his return to the country.
Manmohan Singh is in Washington and is slated to meet US President Barack Obama in an hour from now.
Manmohan Singh’s statement is clearly an attempt to limit the damage caused by the Congress Vice-President calling the ordinance “complete nonsense” and shift the focus back to his visit and meetings lined up with Obama, Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina and Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif.
In a statement, Manmohan Singh said “the Congress Vice-President had also written to me on the issue and also made a statement” and his government was seized of the matter.
The PM’s statement however is unlikely to reduce the impression that his authority and position stands undermined.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, currently with the PM in Washington, said there was no question of Manmohan Singh’s resignation.
“The ordinance was a temporary measure. Rahul Gandhi and the party have a view but this should not be seen as a criticism of the PM or an attempt to undermine his authority. He continues to be the Prime Minister”.
Khurshid’s assertion is unlikely to take away from the fact that Rahul Gandhi’s remarks have once again focused attention on the issue that there are multiple power centres and that the PM has to almost always defer to the wishes of both Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi even on issues that fall within the domain of the government.
INDIA TODAY
