Cabinet finally withdraws both ordinance and bill on convicted lawmakers

The minister hastened to add that Wednesday's move should not be seen as undermining the authority of the prime minister, who was party to the earlier decision to go for the ordinance.



"Democracy is not a monolithic authoritarian system of government," he said. "We respect the diversity of views, and there was a view which was articulated by Rahul Gandhi."

Tewari said Gandhi's outburst against the ordinance Friday -- he had dubbed it "complete nonsense" -- was possibly based on a "wider feedback which he had got".

"Under those circumstances, the cabinet decision was reconsidered and it was decided that we would withdraw both the bill and the ordinance.