Ordinance on convicted lawmakers unethical: Trinamool

KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress today said it was against the ordinance on convicted lawmakers from the beginning since it was "unethical" and was "pleased" over its likely withdrawal.

"We were opposed to the ordinance from the beginning since it was unethical and we are pleased that it is being withdrawn," a senior TMC leader and party MP Saugata Roy told PTI.

Roy, a former Union minister, however, said withdrawal of the controversial ordinance only after Congress vice-president Rahul Gandh publicly trashed it would undermine the Indian Cabinet system of government.

"I think the withdrawal of the ordinance will undermine the cabinet system of government in India because after the cabinet has taken a decision to issue the ordinance and sent it to the President and then to withdraw it in the face of opposition by the vice-president of the same (Congress) party is not only unusual but also unprecedented," he said.

"It was very clumsy and left a bad taste in the mouth", he added.