Amit Shah Defends ‘Tainted Leader’ Bill, Cites PM Modi, Targets Congress Over Indira-era Precedent

Amit Shah Slams Congress Over ‘Tainted Leader’ Bill, Defends Modi Government’s Push for Accountability.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party for opposing the new bill that allows for the removal of a Prime Minister or Chief Minister if arrested for serious criminal offenses. Shah accused Congress of trying to “stay above the law, run governments from jail, and maintain its grip on power.”

In a post on X, Shah drew a contrast between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who “introduced a constitutional amendment to bring himself within the ambit of the law,” and former PM Indira Gandhi, who “through the 39th Constitutional Amendment, granted privileges to the Prime Minister that placed them beyond legal scrutiny.”

He added that while Congress has historically used constitutional amendments to shield political leaders, the BJP’s approach ensures that the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, and Chief Ministers remain accountable under the law.

What the Bill Proposes

Shah tabled three bills in the Lok Sabha:

• Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025
• Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025
• Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Together, these bills provide for the removal of the Prime Minister or Chief Ministers who are arrested on serious criminal charges and kept in custody for over 30 days. Shah described the bills as a measure to curb political corruption, restore public trust, and bring integrity to public life.

Key provisions include:

No person arrested and in jail can govern as Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or as a central or state minister.

If an accused politician fails to secure bail within 30 days of arrest, they are automatically disqualified from their post until released.

Leaders granted bail after this period can resume their duties.

Shah urged the public to decide whether it is acceptable for a minister, Chief Minister, or Prime Minister to continue running the government while in jail. He proposed sending the bills to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny.

Lok Sabha Uproar

The introduction of the bills sparked a heated confrontation in the Lok Sabha. Opposition MPs, including Asaduddin Owaisi, Manish Tewari, NK Premchandran, Dharmendra Yadav, and KC Venugopal, labeled the bills “anti-constitutional.”

Owaisi argued that the bills violate the principle of separation of powers and undermine voters’ right to choose their government, claiming they could allow executive agencies to act as “judge and executioner” based on mere allegations.

The proceedings turned chaotic as MPs tore copies of the bills and threw paper fragments in the House. Speaker Om Birla later adjourned the session amid the uproar.