‘Can PM or CM Run Country From Jail?’: Amit Shah Slams Opposition’s ‘Doublespeak’ on New Bill

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Image : ANI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a blistering attack on the opposition for its protests against the controversial Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, questioning the very idea that a Prime Minister or Chief Minister could govern the country from behind bars. In a sharp rebuke of what he termed political “doublespeak,” Shah defended the proposed legislation, which mandates the removal of ministers from office if they are jailed for more than 30 days on serious criminal charges.

The bill, introduced by Shah during the recent monsoon session, has been branded a “black bill” by opposition parties, who allege it is a tool for the ruling BJP to misuse central agencies and destabilize non-BJP state governments. In an interview with ANI, Shah squarely addressed these criticisms.

“I want to ask the entire nation and the Opposition… Can a Chief Minister, Prime Minister, or any leader run the country from jail? Does that suit the dignity of our democracy?” he questioned. He accused the opposition of wanting to create a system where “the jail will be made CM House, PM House.”

Shah explained that the amendment is straightforward: if a high-ranking official is arrested on serious charges and does not secure bail within 30 days, they must leave their post. He revealed that it was Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself who insisted on including the office of the PM within the bill’s ambit, contrasting this with past actions like Indira Gandhi’s 39th amendment, which shielded top posts from judicial review. “Narendra Modi ji has brought a constitutional amendment against himself,” Shah added.

The Home Minister also slammed the opposition’s disruptive tactics in Parliament, arguing that while protest is a democratic right, preventing a bill from even being presented is not. He pointed out that the bill was already slated to be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, where all parties would have the opportunity to voice their opinions.

Saving his sharpest critique for the Congress, Shah accused the party of hypocrisy. He recalled the UPA era when the Manmohan Singh government introduced an ordinance to protect convicted MPs, a move famously rejected by Rahul Gandhi, who publicly tore up a copy of it. “But now, the same Rahul Gandhi, to form a government in Bihar, is hugging Lalu Yadav who has been convicted. Isn’t this double standards?” Shah asked. The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill will now be examined by a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament.

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