Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 26 : West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari stated that several "corrupt dynasts" are trying to evade the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) set up to review the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill that proposes removal of jailed Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and ministers.
"All the corrupt dynasts have started running away. They have realised that a major impact of this would be on INDI Alliance parties," Adhikari said while speaking to ANI.
The Constitution Amendment Bill provides for the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Minister or any other Minister in the Central or a state government if he/she is arrested and detained in custody on account of serious criminal offences for 30 consecutive days. Two more bills with similar provisions in Puducherry and Jammu and Kashmir were also introduced in the Lok Sabha. The three bills will be examined by a JPC.
Earlier in an interview with ANI, Union Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at the 'Black Bill' protests against the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill by Opposition parties and stated that both he and the BJP "completely reject" the idea that the country "cannot be governed without the person" who has been jailed. He asked whether a Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or any leader could run the country from jail.
Amit Shah said, "I want to ask the entire nation and the Opposition, can a Chief Minister, Prime Minister, or any leader run the country from jail? Does that suit the dignity of our democracy?"
"Even today, they are trying that if they ever have to go to jail, they will easily form the government from jail. The jail will be made CM House, PM House and the DGP, Chief Secretary, Cabinet Secretary or Home Secretary will take orders from the jail. My party and I completely reject the idea that this country cannot be governed without the person who is sitting there. This will not affect anyone's majority in the Parliament or the Assembly. One member will go, other members of the party will run the government, and when they get bail, they can come and take the oath again. What is the objection in this?" he said.