A day after returning from the United States of America, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is back to the business.
Trying to “find out the reasons” why Rahul Gandhi had chosen to rubbish a government’s Ordinance that shields convicted lawmakers “that way”, the PM on Wednesday met the Congress vice president at his residence.
A core committee meeting will follow at around 10:30 am. The core committee comprises Sonia Gandhi, her political secretary Ahmed Patel, the PM, Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
Dr Singh is then due to meet meet President Pranab Mukherjee in the forenoon, before the latter leaves on a state visit to Greece.
Triggered by Rahul’s bombshell, a special Cabinet meeting has been called at 6 pm today. Defending the Ordinance, the Cabinet note says it will discuss two options – whether to wait till President’s decision and Parliamentary Standing Committee report or reverse the Ordinance.
The Prime Minister also hinted his unhappiness with the timing and way of Rahul’s outburst over the Ordinance.
“Well I am not the master of what people say. It has happened and as I said when I go back I will try to find out the reasons why it had to be done that way and how do we handle it,” the Prime Minister told reporters on board his special aircraft while returning from New York after attending the UN General Assembly session.