People will decide if governments can be run from jails: Amit Shah

NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday asserted that, unlike the Congress party's approach of placing the Prime Minister above the law, the BJP's policy ensures that the Prime Minister, ministers, and chief ministers are subject to the rule of law.

"Now, the people of the country will have to decide whether it is appropriate for a minister, chief minister, or the PM to run the govt while in jail," Shah posted on X.


He highlighted that Narendra Modi introduced a Constitutional Amendment Bill to bring himself under the law's ambit, while the Congress-led opposition opposed it to "remain outside the law's ambit, run govts from jail, and not relinquish their attachment to power".

"The purpose of this bill is to elevate the declining level of morality in public life and bring integrity to politics," Shah said. The proposed law stipulates that no person in jail can serve as PM, CM, or minister. He noted, "When the Constitution was framed, our Constitution-makers could not have imagined that in the future, there would be political figures who would not resign on moral grounds before being arrested."

Shah pointed out that, in recent years, some CMs and ministers have immorally continued governing from jail without resigning. The bills include a provision allowing an accused politician to seek bail within 30 days of arrest. Shah contrasted this with historical actions, recalling that former PM Indira Gandhi, through Constitutional Amendment No. 39, granted the Prime Minister immunity from legal action.

"On the one side, this is the work culture and policy of Congress, that they place the Prime Minister above the law through constitutional amendments. On the other side, the policy of BJP is that we are bringing our govt's PM, ministers, and CMs within the ambit of law," he said.

Shah noted that BJP and NDA upheld ethical values, citing veteran LK Advani's resignation following allegations. In contrast, he accused Congress of perpetuating an "unethical tradition" started by Indira Gandhi. He referred to Congress's attempt to protect RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav with an ordinance, which Rahul Gandhi opposed, yet later embraced Yadav publicly in Patna. Shah claimed this exposed the opposition's duplicity.

He clarified that the bills were always intended for thorough discussion in the Joint Committee of Parliament. "Yet, abandoning all shame and decency, entire INDI alliance, led by Congress, gathered to oppose it with crude behaviour to protect the corrupt. Today, the opposition has been completely exposed in front of the public," Shah said.