For Congress, it's better late than never, says Rajnath Singh

Shortly after the union cabinet on Wednesday decided to withdraw the controversial ordinance and the bill to protect convicted lawmakers, BJP president Rajnath Singh said it was "better late than never" for the ruling party.

"It is better late than never for the Congress," Rajnath Singh told a TV channel, adding that the government should have called an all-party meeting before passing the ordinance.

Stating that the "BJP urged the president not to sign the ordinance," he thanked President Pranab Mukherjee for listening to his party.

Another BJP leader, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said pressure from his party and from activists led to the cabinet reversing its decision.

"The opposition of the BJP, civil society, public opinion and sections of the media has ensured that the flag of democracy flies high. When the bill was brought before the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley (BJP leader) and I opposed it," Prasad said.

The cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, took the decision to withdraw the ordinance during a 20-minute sitting on Wednesday.

"The union cabinet met today and it was unanimously decided that both the ordinance, with regard to certain sections of the Representation of Peoples Act, as well as the bill would be withdrawn," union Minister Manish Tewari told reporters after the meeting.