Congress slams Cabinet decision on insurance and coal block Ordinances

NEW DELHI: Congress today slammed the Cabinet decision to bring Ordinances on insurance and coal block allocation, saying the government was "subverting and weakening" institutions and vowed to oppose the "Ordinance Raj".

"This is a government which believes in weakening institutions. This is a big issue. This government wants to subvert institutions," party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here.

"It is wrong for any government to bring Ordinance in such a manner just a day after the session is over," he said, adding "We are against Ordinance Raj technically."

The Cabinet, earlier in the day, decided to promulgate an Ordinance on raising foreign investment cap in insurance sector from 26 per cent to 49 per cent. The Cabinet also decided to promulgate Ordinance to allow fresh auction of coal blocks de-allocated by the Supreme Court in September.

The government decided to use the Ordinance route as the bills on these could not be passed during the just-concluded Winter session of Parliament.

While making his point, Ahmed recalled that the Modi government, immediately after coming to power, had brought an Ordinance to "appoint an officer", a reference to Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to the PM.

Asked whether Congress will urge President Pranab Mukherjee not to give his nod to the Ordinance, Ahmed evaded a direct reply saying he has not read the text of the Ordinance.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley earlier said the country cannot wait even if one of the Houses of Parliament "waits indefinitely".