New Delhi: 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 The bill on convicted leaders that was sent to the standing committee has also been withdrawn.

The government decided to withdraw the controversial ordinance that protects convicted MPs.The reversal of policy was cleared at a Cabinet meeting this evening chaired by the Prime Minister, who met Mr Gandhi this morning,sources said.

The young vice-president of the Congress party reportedly expressed his regret for the timing and language of his public censure.Mr Gandhi reportedly said that he did not mean to undermine or insult the Prime Minister of the Cabinet by going public with his review at a time when Dr Manmohan Singh was in the US for a trip.

Prime Minister met President Pranab Mukherjee today and reportedly informed him of his decision to rescind the ordinance. The President had expressed serious reservations about the ordinance when it was sent to him for his assent last week.

The ordinance provoked criticism from Opposition parties and the public as an attempt to override a Supreme Court decision that disqualifies MPs and state legislators from office if they are convicted in criminal cases.