PK supports bill for resignation of leaders jailed for 30 days
Prashant Kishor
on Wednesday supported the Constitutional amendment bill providing for a mandatory resignation or removal of the Prime Minister, chief ministers and ministers if they have spent 30 consecutive days under arrest or detention.
He added that this bill is aimed at discouraging people from running a govt from jail.
Addressing a meeting in Purnia, Kishor said this bill is being introduced because the framers of the Constitution never anticipated that those in power would become so corrupt and criminal that they would have to go to jail. "Moreover, they would not relinquish their positions even after imprisonment. So the bill is good because if a leader is accused and sent to jail, they cannot continue running the govt from jail," he said, publicly supporting the NDA govt.
On the other hand, the former poll strategist took a dig at RJD leader
Tejashwi Yadav
for reportedly calling it a party of "both sticks and laptops". "Truth has come out finally, and Tejashwi has acknowledged it. We have always said that RJD is a party of sticks and guns. During their govts, sticks, kidnappings, looting and extortion were the hallmarks of Bihar," Kishor alleged.
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Deccan Herald
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- Deccan Herald
Sweeping powers and the morality ruse
The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill and associated bills that were tabled in Parliament on Wednesday violate the principles that underlie the Constitution and the democratic polity. These bills are ill-conceived and are liable to be unfairly implemented. They seek to punish a person before the crime is proved, as they provide for the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and ministers from office if they are arrested or detained in custody for 30 consecutive days for offences that attract a jail term of at least five years. The bills have been sent to a joint committee of parliament which is to return them before the next session so that they can be enacted at the in public office is important but it cannot be pursued by circumventing due process. The bills, if enacted, will become another weapon in the hands of the Central government to target Opposition parties and their ministers. Central investigative agencies, including the CBI and the ED, are now being used to hound politicians in the Opposition camp. At present, the law and its existing processes provide them cover but the proposed laws can remove all defences, exposing anyone to politically motivated, vindictive detention. These will be the new Article 356, without its safeguards and procedures, enabling the Central government to destabilise state governments. The bills are out of tune with the essential norms of parliamentary democracy and deal a blow to constitutional federalism. They challenge the separation of powers between the organs of state and give executive agencies unfettered power to dismiss elected government has sought to justify the bills on the ground of public interest and the need for elected representatives to be honest and above suspicion. But going by the Narendra Modi government's record, these ethical and moral arguments would be mere excuses for targeted actions against the opponents. Long-drawn legal processes and low rates of conviction may have prompted the government to explore quicker ways to get at its political opponents. The bills are not aimed at cleansing the political system but at weakening the Opposition. They are unlikely to pass the judicial muster, even if they get parliamentary approval, because they go against the basic tenet of the rule of law that no one can be held guilty till proven otherwise. The resignation of people holding office is a political matter between them, their parties, and the people. The law should have no role to play until they are proven guilty.
Time of India
15 minutes ago
- Time of India
Under fire for misconduct with women, MLA Mamkootathil quits Youth Cong post
Pathanamthitta/Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil on Thursday quit as Youth Congress state president following allegations of misbehaviour with women from various quarters. The Palakkad MLA announced his decision at his residence in Adoor, shortly after opposition leader V D Satheesan said the party would address such serious allegations without any compromise. Young actor Rini Ann George had on Wednesday alleged that a "young leader of a prominent political party" sent her obscene messages and invited her to a five-star hotel. She stopped short of naming the person but dropped enough hints. However, on Thursday, screenshots of social media chats and voice clips purportedly featuring Mamkootathil appeared on TV channels and social media. Mamkootathil said he decided to quit the post on his own. "At a time when the state govt is facing severe protests and allegations, Congress leaders and party workers should not waste their time and energy on such matters. Hence, I have decided to resign from the post of Youth Congress president. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo I still believe that I have not committed any illegal act," he said. The MLA said he had spoken to the opposition leader, besides KPCC and AICC leaders. "They did not demand my resignation. The actress is my friend, and I don't believe the person she mentioned was me. She is my good friend and will remain so. I believe that I have not done anything against the law or the Constitution until now," he said, adding that he was not aware of the actor complaining to Satheesan about him. On an audio clip released by a Malayalam news channel alleging that he forced a woman to terminate a pregnancy, Mamkootathil said anyone could create such clips in this era. "I will reply when any complaint is filed. Till now, no such complaint exists," he said. Earlier in the day, writer Honey Bhaskaran alleged on social media that Mamkootathil chatted with her on Instagram and later made derogatory remarks about her. On this, he said he also saw the post but no evidence was provided. "Let her prove her allegation. If there is anything illegal, a complaint should be given. If two people indulging in a conversation is illegal, then she is also guilty. I am ready to face action if I am found guilty," he said. Similar allegations were raised against him when he was chosen as Youth Congress president and during the Palakkad byelection, he added. Indirectly welcoming Mamkootathil's decision, Rini said in Kochi that she was only seeking a behavioural correction among politicians. Without naming the person, she said: "Parties should take such corrective measures against such people." On the "friendship" claim, she said she had blocked the person on social media and they no longer communicated. Earlier, Satheesan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that anyone found guilty of such misbehaviour would not be spared. "The woman who raised the allegation should not be dragged into a controversy. She is like a daughter to me. If someone in Congress committed a serious offence, the party will handle it strictly. No matter how prominent the leader is, action will be taken. I will personally ensure this," he said. He said the party had not received any complaint so far. "No one has approached me with a personal complaint. If they did, action would be taken. A serious complaint has emerged now, and action will be taken. The party will investigate and act accordingly," he said. Meanwhile, protests broke out in parts of the state demanding the MLA's resignation. BJP and Mahila Morcha members marched to his office in Palakkad with live roosters. CPM and DYFI members also protested in Palakkad. Protests were also staged outside the MLA's residence in Adoor and offices of Satheesan. Mamkootathil had won the Palakkad byelection in Nov last year with a margin of 18,724 votes. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — August 22, 2025
Bills, 'political morality' The stormy scenes in Parliament on Wednesday, following the introduction of three contentious Bills, reflect the deep political divide. The Opposition is right in saying that the proposed laws could open the door for political misuse. The idea of removing the Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, or Ministers facing serious charges may sound like a sound move to uphold morality, but it carries with it the danger of being used selectively against opponents. Such measures go against the jurisprudence of criminal justice and risk throwing constitutional safeguards to the wind. At the same time, the government's claim of ensuring probity in public life cannot be ignored. Ultimately, the health of Indian democracy lies not in hasty legislation or noisy disruptions but in measured debate, consensus-building, and protecting the federal spirit of the Constitution. Any law curbing the rights of elected representatives must be crafted with caution, lest it becomes a tool to destabilise governments. Rukma Sharma, Jalandhar, Punjab The new Bills pose grave threats to federalism and democratic governance. The 30-day custody rule could be weaponised to systematically target political rivals through prolonged investigations and strategic arrests timed just before elections. Without addressing systemic issues such as judicial delays, police misuse and false case registrations, these measures risk becoming tools of political vendetta. Dr. Moin Khan, Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh
