Kolkata, Sep 28 (IANS): Describing as "unfortunate" and "embarrassing" Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's trashing of the ordinance on convicted lawmakers, union Heavy Industries Minister and NCP leader Praful Patel Saturday said the situation could have been better handled.

"The way the events have come out, what has taken place, is very unfortunate. I think the entire matter could have been handled in a better way. It's embarrassing," Patel told media persons here.

The Nationalist Congress Party leader said only the union cabinet had the right to reverse the decision.

"It is now up to the prime minister to take a call," the minister said, on the sidelines of the Annual General Meeting of the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce.

Laying the onus for clearing the confusion on the Congress, which spearheads the United Progressive Alliance coalition, Patel said: "The onus should not be put on other political parties."

He pointed out that it was an "almost unanimous" decision among all parties to present the legislation before parliament.

"The only point of difference was whether to introduce the legislation in the monsoon or the winter session, or whether it should be sent to the select committee," he said.