New Delhi: 6:55 pm: Manish Tewari said that the decision does not undermine the authority of the PM or the Cabinet. "Earlier all parties wanted this ordinance to be passed but in a democracy we have to look into the views of the people.
6:50 pm: Congress said the Cabinet unanimously decided to withdraw the ordinance on convicted leaders. "The Union Cabinet today met in the evening and it was unanimously decided that we will withdraw the ordinance with regard to certain sections of Representation of People's act," Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said after the meeting.
6:25 pm: The Cabinet in its meeting has decided to withdraw the ordinance on convicted leaders. The bill on convicted leaders that was sent to the standing committee has also been withdrawn.
6:10 pm:Cabinet meeting to decide on withdrawing ordinance on convicted leaders begins at Prime Minister's residence.
4:56 pm: The government is seeking legal advise on withdrawal of the ordinance. Attorney General GE Vahanvati has arrived at the Prime Minister's residence, 7 Race Course Road for a discussion.
4:25 pm: The UPA government has given-in to the demands of the Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi as the PM has informed the allies, the decision taken in the Congress core group meet to call off the ordinance protecting convicted politicians.
2:46 pm: Congress ally and NC chief Farooq Abdullah has said that he will meet the PM before Cabinet meet on ordinance on convicted MPs. "Rahul should have put his views before the PM, it was wrong to have said it in his absence. We are all allies. Hope that there will be better coordination with allies in future," he said.
1:55 pm: The meeting between PM Manmohan Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee over the ordinance on convicted MPs has ended.
1:02 pm: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is now meeting President Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the ordinance on convicted MPs.
12:47 pm:According to sources, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to tell President Pranab Mukherjee that Congress core group feels that the ordinance should be withdrawn. Sources say the Prime Minister may suggest the President that the Bill on convicted MPs be withdrawn.
12:04 pm: According to sources, the Congress core group has said that the Cabinet should reconsider the ordinance on convicted MPs. Sources say the Congress core group, however, also feels that allies should be taken on board.
11:38 am: The Congress core group meet on the ordinance on convicted MPs has ended.
11:10 am: JD(U) leader KC Tyagi has called the Congress 'indecisive'. "The Congress is making way for the BJP. They are making a mess of everything, they are indecisive," Tyagi said.
10:55 am: The Congress core group meet to discuss the ordinance on convicted MPs has begun at the Prime Minister's residence. Sonia Gandhi also reportedly met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ahead of the core group meet.
10:38 am: SP leader Naresh Agarwal has called Rahul Gandhi's 'nonsense' remark a drama. "This is only a drama. Rahul is not aware of the mood of the people," he said. "The ordinance was brought after an all party meeting where BJP had also agreed to it, it should not be taken back," Agarwal said.
10:29 am: Sources say during the meeting, Rahul Gandhi explained his stand and opposition to the ordinance on convicted MPs. Sources say Rahul has told the Prime Minister that it wasn't his intention to embarrass him. The Prime Minister has reportedly assured him that the Cabinet will look into issues raised by him on the ordinance.
10:11 am: The meeting between Rahul Gandhi and PM Manmohan Singh has ended. The Congress core group is now scheduled to meet at 10:45 am.
10:02 am: The meeting between Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi has begun.
9:48 am: Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has reached Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence to discuss the ordinance on convicted MPs. Rahul, however, was conspicuous by his absence at Rajghat where Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi paid respect to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
Rahul's absence raised many eyebrows as it came just before the Prime Minister's meeting with him ahead of the Congress core group meet.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh arrived back in India from the US in a combative mood. He has indicated that he is unhappy with the timing of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's sudden outburst against the ordinance shielding convicted politicians and will meet him at 9:45 am on Wednesday.
At 6 pm, the Cabinet will meet to take a final call on withdrawing the ordinance. The question being asked is whether the Prime Minister is bowing to Rahul's wishes.
"I am not a master of what people say. It has happened. When I go back I will try to find out the reasons why it had to be done this way and how we will handle it," the Prime Minister said on Tuesday.
Many feel that Rahul Gandhi, by registering his opposition publicy, when the PM was abroad, has undermined Dr Singh's authority. Responding to that the PM has said that he has seen many ups and downs and doesn't easily get upset. "I think, I have been used to ups and downs and I don't get easily upset," he said.
When Rahul and Manmohan Singh meet early on Wednesday morning, it would be to find a meeting point. The Prime Minister will explain to Rahul that the ordinance is not shielding criminals while rahul is expected to be apologetic, yet stick to his stand that the ordinance was wrong.
What is clear though is that in a rare assertion Dr Manmohan Singh made it obvious that he is unhappy with Rahul's outburst, which happened while he was abroad. Back home it gave yet another handle to the Bharatiya Janata Party to ask him to step down but much to Congress's relief, the Prime Minister ruled out a resignation.
"Well, there is no question of resigning. I said I will put all these issues before my Cabinet colleagues," Manmohan Singh said.
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