Varun Gandhi denounces Rahul Gandhi's outburst against ordinance to protect convicted MPs

BJP general secretary Varun Gandhi on Sunday denounced Rahul's Gandhi's outburst against the controversial ordinance to protect convicted lawmakers, saying it was an "insult" to the Prime Minister and "disgraceful" for the nation.

"Rahul's comments denouncing the ordinance is an insult to the Prime Minister. Such an insult to the PM, who is abroad, is thus also disgraceful for the entire nation," Varun was quoted as telling the party's state Executive Committee meeting here while reacting to his cousin and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's remarks.

BJP state president Rahul Sinha while briefing about the party's closed-door meeting quoted Varun as saying, "It is most unethical to make such a comment on any issue when the PM is abroad in particular and that too by his own party's top leader."

Sinha demanded immediate resignation of the Prime Minister and his government as well as resignation of Congress president Sonia Gandhi from her post.

"Since Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi believed that the ordinance was a complete nonsense and it should be torn up and thrown away, neither the PM nor his government has any moral right to continue. Soniaji should also resign from the top post in the party for the disgraceful act by her party leader," Sinha said.

He said either the PM and Congress Chief should resign immediately or Rahul Gandhi should be expelled from the party for the unethical act.

He pointed out that it was the BJP which which had spoken against the controversial ordinance and its leaders had even met President Pranab Mukherjee to lodge their protest.

BJP co-observer in West Bengal Siddharth Nath Singh termed Rahul Gandhi's comments as an "exercise in image recovery" in the party.

"It is unbelievable that the party top leadership does not know what their government is doing. Now they are busy in damage control exercise at the cost of the PM and the entire nation," Singh said.