Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, in an interview with ANI, disclosed about PM Modi’s principled stance on a controversial bill that mandates the removal of constitutional office holders if arrested on serious criminal charges.
Kiren Rijiju, in an interview with ANI, disclosed that a recommendation had been made to exclude the Prime Minister from the ambit of the contentious removal bill. Still, Prime Minister Narendra Modi rejected the proposal. The PM told the cabinet that while the recommendation was to keep the prime minister out of this bill, he disagreed.
The Bill says any Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Union Minister, or Minister of a state or Union Territory who is arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days without bail, on charges carrying a potential sentence of five years or more, shall be removed from office.
Rijiju slammed the Opposition over its noisy protests against the three bills introduced by Home Minister Amit Shah. The opposition created a significant uproar in Parliament over these bills.
Rijiju highlighted that the repeated demonstration by the opposition is an attempt to obstruct democratic proceedings and prevent meaningful debate on the proposed legislation. He urged the opposition to engage in constructive dialogue rather than resorting to disruptive behaviour.
Rijiju stated that the Constitutional Amendment Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha is “revolutionary” and that the opposition should have welcomed it. He positioned this as a positive reform that should have received cross-party support. Rijiju emphasised the democratic and anti-corruption intent behind the legislation.
When Congress MP K C Venugopal questioned Shah about public morality by referring to his arrest in a criminal case when he was Gujarat’s Home Minister in 2010, Shah replied that he had resigned on moral grounds before he was arrested on false allegations.
The Bill represents a significant constitutional amendment affecting the highest offices in the nation. Creating a uniform standard across all levels of government. Modi’s refusal of exemption creates a positive image of him.
