Hours after the Vasudhara Raje government asked a select committee of the Rajasthan Assembly to examine a controversial bill, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said his party would approach the court if the government does not completely scrap the executive order.
“This kind of ordinance or bill has no place in a democracy. We don't want a partial rollback, but a complete one. My party and I will approach the courts if the government doesn't scrap this order,” Mr. Pilot said in an exclusive chat with The Hindu .
On Tuesday, under pressure from Opposition and adverse public opinion, the BJP government referred the controversial bill to be examined by a legislative committee and asked the committee to give a report within six weeks.
The bill, first introduced in the form of an executive order last month, sought to protect Ministers, bureaucrats and retired judges by making prior government approval necessary for courts to take complaints against them.
'A victory for Opposition'
“The fact that the government has sent the bill to a select committee is a victory for the Opposition and the democratic forces, but the BJP government has been very stubborn and arrogant about this whole issue,” Mr. Pilot said.
Terming the Rajasthan government’s intent “suspect”, Congress' Rajasthan unit chief said the Chief Minister still hasn't answered some key questions.
“The Chief Minister still hasn't answered why she did this? Who was she trying to protect by giving legal safeguards? We certainly want answers from her and her government,” Mr. Pilot said.
