Shah: Oppn against bill so that they can run govts from jail

New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday took on opposition parties for opposing the constitutional amendment bill which seeks to provide for removal of PM, CMs and ministers if they have spent 30 days behind bars or in detention, saying they are calling for govts to be run from jail.

Shah said opposition parties' stand boils down to saying if their politicians ever have to go to jail they can run the govt from behind bars. "Jail will be made CM house, PM house... DGP, chief secretary, cabinet secretary or home secretary will take orders from jail," Shah said in an interview with news agency ANI, adding, "I want to ask the entire nation and opposition... Can a CM, PM, or neta run the country from jail? Does that suit the dignity of our democracy?"

He also criticised Congress' Rahul Gandhi on the issue, reminding him of his action of tearing up the 2013 ordinance that Manmohan Singh govt brought to protect Lalu Prasad from being disqualified following the conviction of the RJD functionary in a criminal case.

"Why did Rahul ji tear up the ordinance that Manmohan Singh brought to protect Lalu ji? If there was morality that day, then what happened now? Just because you have lost three consecutive elections? Morality's standards are not connected with victory or loss in elections. They should be steady like the Sun and the Moon," Shah said, adding that successive defeats had led the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha to go back on his stand.

Shah expressed confidence that the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, will be passed, despite opposition's fierce criticism. "I am sure it will be passed. There will be many people in Congress and in opposition who will support morality and maintain moral ground," he said.

The bill proposes automatic removal of PM, CMs and ministers if they are arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days on charges punishable by five years or more imprisonment. The bill has been referred for detailed scrutiny to a JPC, comprising 31 members from both Houses of Parliament. It will examine the bill and provide recommendations before it is put to vote.

Emphasising that the bill covers the PM would apply equally to all parties, Shah said the number of NDA CMs is more and the PM is also from the same alliance, therefore, the bill will not affect opposition alone. "Right now, PM Narendra Modi is there, so there is no question of it. But if the PM of the country goes to jail, do you think it is right that the PM or a CM runs govt from jail?" Shah asked.

Citing cases of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia not resigning from their posts, Shah said, "This is a new tradition. Two years back, there was no such case. The neta would typically resign after being accused and then enter politics after being released. Some ministers from Tamil Nadu did not resign. Delhi CM and home minister did not tender their resignations. We disagree with them in diminishing political or social morality to such a level." He also cited the example of Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren's resignation before his arrest.

On TMC's and AAP's boycott of the JPC, Shah said govt has given them a fair chance to participate. "It's not right to reject the rules of Parliament and then expect everything to happen on your terms. Govt is giving them a chance but if they don't accept it, there's nothing more we can do. If they refuse to join the JPC, what can we do?" he added.

Shah also affirmed that, contrary to allegations by opposition, the presence of CISF is not an attempt to stifle or suppress lawful protest within Parliament. "Inside Parliament, any force present there, is under the authority of the Speaker. The identity of the force itself does not matter. Earlier, it used to be personnel from Delhi Police; now it is CISF," he said and recalled the canister attack after which CISF was deployed.



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