New Delhi: Hours after meeting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday asked the government to clarify the urgent need to bring an ordinance that protects convicted MPs and MLAs from disqualification, according to sources.

According to sources the President has asked Law Minister Kapil Sibal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath for clarifications on the need for the ordinance. Pranab has also enquired about the status of the Bill in Parliament. A delegation of BJP leaders on Thursday met the President to voice the party’s opposition to the ordinance.The BJP urged the President not to sign the ordinance.

“The BJP is opposed to this ordinance and it is unconstitutional, illegal and immoral” said LK Advani after meeting the President. Sushma Swaraj added that the President has assured that he will take a decision on it only after examining it. “The President has assured us that he will examine the ordinance and then only take any decision,” said Sushma. “When the Bill is pending before the standing committee of the Rajya Sabha, how can the government bring an ordinance,” she said.

The ordinance is a reversal of Supreme Court judgement that had not only disqualified lawmakers convicted of offences with two years or more in jail but also also barred from contesting elections. The ordinance will allow convicted legislators to continue in office, if the appeal against the conviction is admitted by a higher court within 90 days. The ordinance says that if a lawmaker appeals his conviction or the sentence is stayed by a higher court, he can attend Parliament/ state Assemblies but cannot draw salaries or vote.