Rahul Gandhi's stand reflects opinion of Congress and the people: G K Vasan

CHENNAI: Joining the chorus of support in the government for Rahul Gandhi's stand against the ordinance on convicted lawmakers, Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan today said the Congress Vice President has reflected the opinion of the party as well as the people of the country.

"Rahul Gandhi has expressed his opinion very clearly. It is not only his opinion. I think he has echoed the voice of the Congress party from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and also the people of the country," Vasan told reporters here.

"I'm sure that the importance of the subject will be taken by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after he comes from his foreign visit and accordingly an appropriate decision will be taken," he said.

"Taking the popular sentiment of the country, there should be no difference within the Congress."

Rahul Gandhi had yesterday denounced the controversial ordinance to negate the Supreme Court verdict on convicted lawmakers as "complete nonsense" and which "should be torn up and thrown away".

Gandhi, whose remarks causing tremors in the government, had said he realised that what he felt about the ordinance was not in harmony with the Cabinet's decision and the Core Group's view.

After Rahul denounced the ordinance, Union ministers Milind Deora and Shashi Tharoor too opposed the measure.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid had said "if the party leadership feels that there is a need for a second look...the party will tell the government to do that."

The controversial ordinance seeks to prevent immediate disqualification of convicted MPs and MLAs.