New Delhi [India], August 21 : Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat on Thursday strongly criticised the government's bill proposing the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and other ministers if they are held on serious criminal charges.
Bhagat, while speaking to ANI, said that the intention behind the bill is to do "Sarkar Chori," and alleged that the government will turn it into a "political weapon."
"Through Election Commission, they are indulging in 'Vote Chori' and through this Bill, they would do 'Sarkar Chori'. You are making this a political weapon," he said.
He alleged that the bill is designed to intimidate the opposition in Bihar during Rahul Gandhi's Yatra campaigns.
Bhagat said, "Their intention is unclear even to this day. This Bill is being brought to scare Bihar and Andhra Pradesh into staying with them because they know what their condition would be after Rahul Gandhi's Yatra there."
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP N K Premachandran strongly criticised the government's Bill proposing the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and ministers held on serious criminal charges.
Speaking to ANI, Premachandran described the legislation as "draconian" and an infringement on the federal principles of the Constitution.
He said, "Yesterday, we very clearly opposed the introduction of the Bill, stating that this is a draconian legislation. This infringes on the federal principles of the Constitution, specifically the collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the Parliament."
Describing it as "anti-democratic" and "against the principles of federalism," he warned that the bill could be misused to destabilise non-BJP state governments.
Premachandran said, "This is with an ulterior motive to destabilise the Governments of various states in which the BJP is not in power. So, instead of Article 356, this can be used as a weapon to remove the State Govts which are not governed by the BJP and its friends. This is anti-democratic. It is against the principles of federalism."
The reactions come amid Amit Shah's introduction in the Lok Sabha of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, to further amend the Constitution of India and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, apart from the bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. The bills were sent to joint committee of Parliament.
The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to remove a Central or State Minister who is facing allegations of corruption or serious offences and has been detained for at least 30 days. Union Minister Amit Shah tabled the Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
The proposed bill mandates the removal of any Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or Minister who is detained for 30 consecutive days on charges punishable with at least five years of imprisonment. If the arrested leader doesn't resign, their office will automatically fall vacant after 31 days. Interestingly, the bill allows for re-appointment post-release, providing a degree of flexibility.