The Lok Sabha witnessed chaos as Opposition members tore copies of three controversial bills introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. These bills propose removing the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or Union Territory Ministers if they are arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges carrying a jail term of five years or more. If detained beyond 30 days, the minister would lose their post from the 31st day, either by the President’s order on the Prime Minister’s advice or automatically if no advice is given.
Opposition MPs, including Congress, AIMIM, and Trinamool leaders, strongly opposed the bills, calling them unconstitutional, draconian, and a threat to federalism and democracy. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the bills as an anti-corruption facade that could be misused to remove elected leaders without conviction. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi accused the BJP of trying to turn India into a police state. Trinamool’s Abhishek Banerjee condemned the bills as authoritarian and power-hungry.
Amid protests and sloganeering, the House was repeatedly adjourned. Amit Shah defended the bills, saying they address the problem of governments being run from jail, citing past examples in Delhi and Tamil Nadu. He assured the bills would be sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee, including Opposition members, for further discussion before the next session. BJP MP Manan Kumar Mishra accused the Opposition of obstructing an important reform.
