Cong defends Rahul tearing ordinance copy

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 17

The Congress today defended former party president Rahul Gandhi’s infamous ordinance tearing act of September 2013 widely seen as a measure of grave disrespect for then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Following revelations by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, former Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission, that Singh had sought his counsel on whether to resign after the episode, the Congress today said it was proud that Rahul Gandhi, who took a principled stand against criminalisation in politics, was leading the party.

“Tearing the ordinance is not the issue here. The issue is criminalisation of politics and whether the Ganges of politics should have been allowed to be polluted. The Supreme Court said exactly what Rahul Gandhi said at the time,” Congress chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

“We are proud Rahul Gandhi is leading us,” the AICC media head said, insisting that Gandhi could never ever imagine doing anything to disrespect Manmohan Singh.

Against criminalisation of politics

After Montek Singh Ahluwalia’s revelations that former PM Manmohan Sigh had mulled resigning after the 2013 episode, Congress says tearing up the executive order is not the issue; the issue is one leader showed the courage to stand up against criminalisation of politics.