'Fear of ordinance's rejection forced Rahul Gandhi to create a scene'

RAMPUR: Due to a "conclusion" that President Pranab Mukherjee might not give his assent to the ordinance on convicted lawmakers, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi appeared before the press "in a hurry" and created a scene to divert public attention, UP minister Azam Khan today claimed.

The SP leader alleged: "Rahul's call to tear and throw away the ordinance indicates that he had drawn up a conclusion that President's node to the controversial ordinance might not be obtained."

"Hence he (Rahul) appeared before the press in a hurry and created a scene to divert public attention in his favour by calling the ordinance nonsense," said Azam, the Muslim face of the Samajwadi Party.

Mukherjee had sought clarification from senior Cabinet ministers on Thursday "on the justification for bringing the ordinance".

Azam also alleged that the Union government's move to bring the ordinance was a "clear indication" that even Supreme Court's verdict could be "made meaningless for selfish political purposes."

"Union government's endeavour to bring in an ordinance to keep the rights of convicted legislators intact to a great extent and protect them from immediate disqualification was a clear indication that even verdicts of the apex court could be made meaningless for selfish political purposes," he said.

Azam also targeted BJP and its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

He said after RBI chief Raghuram Rajan's report on development, where Gujarat figures in less developed states, Modi's claim of economic growth has been proved to be a blatant lie.

The SP leader assailed BJP and claimed that the "saffron party" believes in running the country by a "single unchecked individual" and keeping before them a singular ideal.

"If the country marches on the pattern of Gujarat, then disturbances would emerge unrestrained and communal peace deteriorate or diminish," he said.