This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24361248
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Key India meeting over measure to protect criminal MPs | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Indian PM Manmohan Singh has met Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi ahead of a crucial cabinet meeting to decide on the fate of a controversial order that protects convicted MPs. | |
| Media reports say the order is likely to be withdrawn after Mr Gandhi described it as "complete nonsense". | |
| Last month's order overruled a Supreme Court directive which said convicted lawmakers must be removed from office. | |
| It has been sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for approval. | It has been sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for approval. |
| The controversial ordinance has been criticised by the Indian media and analysts who have described it as a threat to electoral reforms. | The controversial ordinance has been criticised by the Indian media and analysts who have described it as a threat to electoral reforms. |
| Embarrassment | Embarrassment |
| Several leaders of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some Congress party politicians have also criticised the move. | Several leaders of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some Congress party politicians have also criticised the move. |
| And in an uncharacteristic outburst last week, Mr Gandhi said the ordinance "should be torn up and thrown away". | And in an uncharacteristic outburst last week, Mr Gandhi said the ordinance "should be torn up and thrown away". |
| Mr Gandhi - the son of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi - is seen as the pre-eminent leader within the Congress party and his comments have been seen as a huge embarrassment to the government as ministers have defended the order. | |
| Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was on an official trip to the US when Mr Gandhi made the remarks, has said he will discuss the issue with the Congress leader. | |
| Media reports say that the two met on Wednesday morning ahead of the cabinet meeting later in the day. | |
| In July, the Supreme Court ruled that convicted MPs and state legislators would be barred from office if they were sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more. | In July, the Supreme Court ruled that convicted MPs and state legislators would be barred from office if they were sentenced to imprisonment for two years or more. |
| Campaigners had called the Supreme Court's order a major step in cleaning up Indian politics, which has been beset by corruption scandals. | Campaigners had called the Supreme Court's order a major step in cleaning up Indian politics, which has been beset by corruption scandals. |
| Two senior former ministers, who were sent to prison in corruption cases in recent days, face disqualification from parliament after the court order. | Two senior former ministers, who were sent to prison in corruption cases in recent days, face disqualification from parliament after the court order. |
| More than 150 MPs in the 543-seat lower house of parliament are said to be facing criminal charges. | More than 150 MPs in the 543-seat lower house of parliament are said to be facing criminal charges. |
| Delhi-based election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms says across the country there are 1,460 serving lawmakers facing criminal charges. | Delhi-based election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms says across the country there are 1,460 serving lawmakers facing criminal charges. |