New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday launched a sharp attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, questioning the BJP’s stance on politicians with criminal backgrounds while defending his decision to continue as CM from jail.
In a post on X, Kejriwal asked, “Should a person who includes criminals of serious crimes in his party, gets their cases dismissed, and makes them ministers or chief ministers, also resign from his position? How many years of imprisonment should such a person face?”
He further questioned whether ministers who falsely implicate political opponents should face punishment. “If someone is falsely implicated in a case, sent to jail, and later acquitted, how many years of imprisonment should the minister who falsely implicated him face?” Kejriwal wrote.
The AAP leader also justified his decision to remain in office despite being behind bars. “When the central government framed me in a false case and sent me to jail, I ran Delhi’s government for 160 days from jail. During that period, there were no power cuts, water was supplied, free medicines were available, mohalla clinics functioned, and private schools were regulated. In the last seven months under BJP’s administration, Delhi has been left in a mess,” he said.
Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah had strongly defended the Constitution Amendment Bill, dismissing opposition protests as “Black Bill” theatrics. In an interview with ANI, Shah said it was undignified for a Prime Minister or Chief Minister to govern from jail. “Can a CM, PM, or leader run the country from jail? Will the CM House or PM House be shifted to jail? My party and I completely reject this idea,” he said.
Shah also cited the UPA government’s 2013 ordinance to shield convicted MPs, recalling how Rahul Gandhi had famously torn it apart. He accused Congress of double standards for now allying with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, who has been convicted, to form a government in Bihar.
Meanwhile, a Joint Committee of Parliament, with members from both Houses, will be appointed to examine the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill.
