Cong accuses Modi of violating constutional norms

New Delhi, Aug 31 (PTI) Congress today targeted PrimeMinister Narendra Modi, accusing him of violatingconstitutional norms in the wake of reports that for the firsttime an ordinance was sent to the President without theCabinet clearing it. The party’s chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala toldreporters that the move was "unfortunate" and "smacks ofgrowing authoritarian tendencies". His remarks came in the wake of reports that PresidentPranab Mukherjee on Sunday signed an ordinance or executiveorder for the fourth time to amend a law that the governmenthas been unable to pass in Parliament, but is reportedly upsetas it was sent to him this time without being routed throughthe Union Cabinet. The Prime Minister used Rule 12 of business andtransactions to send to the President the ordinance, whichamends the Enemy Property Act, a 48-year-old law to guardagainst claims of succession or transfer of properties left bypeople who migrated to Pakistan or China after wars. This is the first time since Independence that anordinance has been sent to the President without the Cabinetfirst clearing it Lok Sabha had passed a bill to amend the act earlier thisyear, but opposition parties want it reviewed and have stalledit in Rajya Sabha, where the government is in a minority,forcing it to keep it alive by issuing ordinance afterordinance. PTI SPGSC