SP opposes government's bid to withdraw ordinance

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party today opposed the government's bid to withdraw the ordinance on convicted lawmakers after Rahul Gandhi's carping criticism and said that backing out of a "well-thought out" decision will give the signal that "one individual is bigger than the government".

"Samajwadi Party requests the Prime Minister that he should remain firm on the ordinance that the government has brought. It should remain firm on it as it was brought after due consideration. This message should not go in the country that it was withdrawn under the pressure of one individual," the party's Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agrawal said.

SP, which supports the UPA government from outside, had backed the government's move to bring the measure and has been critical of any bid to withdraw it ever since Rahul Gandhi slammed as "complete nonsense".

"Politicians will fight for people and then they will be debarred from contesting elections if they are held guilty. Then how will we work? This is a conspiracy against democracy. If the ordinance is withdrawn, it will be proved that one individual is bigger in the country and not the government." Agrawal said.

He also rued that after Gandhi's attack on the ordinance, the Prime Minister's stature stands undermined.

UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that the manner in which the ordinance was brought and is now being "withdrawn hurriedly", shows that "the decision is being taken keeping elections in mind".