New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday launched a sharp critique against the Congress party, alleging that its fierce opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment stems from a deep-rooted sense of entitlement toward corruption. The verbal clash erupted after the ruling party defended a draft legislation that mandates the automatic removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Cabinet Ministers if they remain in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days in connection with serious criminal offences. The BJP asserted that opposition parties are seeking to protect a political culture where executive heads believe they are exempt from standard civic accountability.
The sharp remarks from the ruling party follow a public declaration by Congress General Secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh, who vowed that his party would aggressively block the passage of the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill. Ramesh characterized the legislative push as an instrument of political vendetta and harassment engineered by the Central government to target and destabilize its political adversaries. He argued that forcing an official’s dismissal prior to a definitive court conviction fundamentally violates the constitutional principle of being presumed innocent until proven guilty, while further accusing federal investigative agencies of acting with institutional bias against opposition figures.
Countering the allegations, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla released a video statement questioning the administrative viability and moral integrity of allowing elected officials to govern from a prison cell. Drawing parallels to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s decision to retain office while incarcerated, Poonawalla noted that the founding architects of the Indian Constitution could never have anticipated executive heads refusing to step down upon entering judicial detention. He emphasized that a standard salaried citizen faces immediate suspension from their job upon being jailed, arguing that separate, elite legal privileges should not exist for individuals occupying public offices.
The contentious legislation, originally introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in August 2025, has been under the rigorous review of a Joint Parliamentary Committee chaired by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi. According to internal parliamentary sources, the panel is slated to finalize and adopt its comprehensive report on July 17, with plans to formally table it in the Lok Sabha during the upcoming Monsoon Session commencing on July 20. Poonawalla urged the opposition coalition to halt their premature resistance and wait for the committee’s structural recommendations rather than outright rejecting measures aimed at establishing legislative propriety.
