Latest news with #GovernmentofUnionTerritories(Amendment)Bill
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Unconstitutional, undemocratic': Opposition tears into Centre's bills to remove detained ministers
The Centre's move to table the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth) Amendment Bill in Parliament has triggered a wave of backlash from Opposition parties , who warn it could dismantle democratic safeguards and weaponise the law against political rivals . Leaders across the spectrum have labelled the proposal 'draconian,' 'anti-constitutional,' and a deliberate attempt to weaken elected governments. The amendment aims to introduce a new clause in Article 75 of the Constitution — extending to Union Territories and Jammu & Kashmir through two parallel bills, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Under the proposal, a Prime Minister, Union minister, Chief Minister, or state minister would automatically lose office if arrested and held in custody for more than 30 days in a case carrying a punishment of at least five years. The only safeguard offered is that ministers may present reasons on the 31st day of arrest to avoid disqualification. Live Events Opposition strikes back Priyanka Gandhi Vadra delivered one of the strongest rebukes, calling the plan 'absolutely anti-constitutional , undemocratic and very unfortunate.' She argued that the bill disguises itself as an anti-corruption measure but in reality gives ruling governments sweeping powers. 'Tomorrow, you can put any kind of case on a CM, detain them for 30 days without conviction, and they lose office. This is against everything our democracy stands for,' she told ANI. — ANI (@ANI) Congress leader Shashi Tharoor stressed on the need for careful scrutiny over the bill. 'On the face of it, it's difficult to find a problem — obviously, if someone has done something wrong, they should not remain a minister. However, I don't know if there's any other motive behind the bill, since I haven't examined it in detail,' he told PTI. Meanwhile, Congress' Rajeev Shukla also voiced suspicion that the proposal is a tool to topple Opposition-led states. 'The fear is real — Opposition chief ministers and ministers could be targeted. We hear the bill may go to a Select Committee. The battle will continue there,' he told ANI. RJD MP Manoj Jha accused the BJP-led Central government of blurring the line between accusation and conviction. 'Wherever you can't win elections, you destabilise governments. This is a new tactic. Even the Supreme Court has cautioned about investigative agencies turning political. This bill formalises that danger,' he told ANI. In addition, AIMIM head Asaduddin Owaisi warned that the legislation paves the way for authoritarianism. 'This bill is unconstitutional. Who will arrest the Prime Minister? The BJP wants to turn India into a police state. Power is not eternal,' he said while speaking to ANI. — PTI_News (@PTI_News) Kirti Azad, TMC leader, criticised the executive for overstepping its role. 'It is the judiciary's job to punish, not the executive's. This bill ignores constitutional boundaries. They don't follow the Constitution, and this proves it yet again,' he told PTI.
Mint
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Bills seeking removal of PM, CMs facing serious criminal charges to be referred to joint committee of Parliament
The Union government is set to refer its three big-ticket anti-corruption draft laws, which also include provisions for the removal of a prime minister and chief ministers arrested on serious criminal charges, to the joint committee of both Houses of Parliament. Home Minister Amit Shah is set to introduce the three draft laws – The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill; The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill; and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The 'List of Government Business on August 20 and 21' in the Lok Sabha includes the introduction of the bill Shah will also move a motion to refer the three bills to a joint committee of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha with a provision for submission of its report on the first day of the last week of the next session of Parliament, news agency PTI said. Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw is also scheduled to introduce the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The bill seeks to prohibit online money gaming or its advertisements, and prescribes imprisonment or fine, or both, for those offering or advertising them. It also seeks to differentiate such games from eSports or online social games. The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill is a crucial step towards political accountability in India. The Lok Sabha is also scheduled to resume the discussion on astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's space mission on Wednesday. The ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament ends on 21 August.
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Business Standard
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Centre to send bills on removal of PM, CMs with serious charges to panel
The government is set to refer its three big-ticket anti-corruption draft laws that also have provisions for the removal of a prime minister and chief ministers arrested on serious criminal charges, to the joint committee of both Houses of Parliament. Home Minister Amit Shah is set to introduce the three draft laws -- The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill; The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill; and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. He will also move a motion to refer the three bills to a joint committee of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha with a provision for submission of its report on the first day of the last week of the next session of Parliament. Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw is also scheduled to introduce the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The bill seeks to prohibit online money gaming or its advertisements, and prescribes imprisonment or fine, or both, for those offering or advertising them. It also seeks to differentiate such games from eSports or online social games. The Lok Sabha is also scheduled to resume the discussion on astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's space mission on Wednesday. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
