The Lok Sabha witnessed uproar on Wednesday after Union Home Minister Amit Shah tabled three key bills, including a Constitution Amendment Bill, that seek to remove the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or Ministers facing serious criminal charges and held in custody for 30 consecutive days. Opposition MPs tore copies of the bills and hurled them towards Shah, triggering heated exchanges.
The Home Minister introduced the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and amendments to the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. He proposed that the bills be examined by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025, in particular, seeks to insert provisions for the removal of a Chief Minister or Minister in case of arrest or detention over offences punishable with five years or more.
Amid loud sloganeering, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House till 3 pm.
AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi strongly opposed the introduction of the bills, warning that they undermine the principle of separation of powers. “This government is creating a Police State. These amendments make executive agencies judge and executioner, turning democracy into autocracy,” he said.
Congress MP Manish Tewari argued that the proposals strike at the “basic structure” of the Constitution. “This bill makes an investigating officer more powerful than even the Prime Minister. It violates Article 21 and dismantles parliamentary democracy by sidelining the will of the people. It opens the door to political misuse,” he stated.
Congress MP KC Venugopal confronted Amit Shah on the BJP’s argument of “morality” in politics, recalling Shah’s own arrest during his tenure as Gujarat’s Home Minister.
Defending himself, Shah said, “Before I was arrested, I resigned on moral grounds. Until the court declared me innocent, I did not accept any constitutional position.”
The Home Minister then requested the Speaker to refer the bills to a Joint Committee of Parliament, comprising 21 members of the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha.
