BJP Defends Arrest Bills Amid Opposition Resistance
Bills aim to oust arrested leaders, spark controversy.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday fiercely criticized opposition parties for opposing three bills introduced by the Narendra Modi government, which mandate the removal of the prime minister, chief ministers, and ministers arrested for 30 consecutive days on serious charges. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, accused the opposition of being “friends of corruption” who are obstructing efforts to instill morality, clean politics, and good governance.
Poonawalla described the bills as powerful tools to combat corruption and criminalization in politics, asserting that they have widespread public support. “The entire country welcomes these bills, but a handful of opposition parties are siding with shamelessness and family interests over principles,” he charged, labeling the opposition a “bandwagon of corrupts” protecting their own corrupt practices under the guise of defending democracy and the Constitution.
Introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha last Wednesday, the bills triggered intense protests from opposition MPs, who tore up copies of the draft law and shouted slogans near Shah’s seat. The legislation has been referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament, comprising 21 Lok Sabha and 10 Rajya Sabha members, for scrutiny, with a report due by mid-November.
Also Read: BJP’s Massive March to Defend Dharmasthala Temple
Opposition parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party (SP), and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have fiercely opposed the bills. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused the BJP of engaging in “satta chori” (power theft) to destabilize opposition-led governments by weaponizing arrests through agencies like the ED and CBI. He argued that the bills undermine citizens’ rights to elect or remove their governments. The TMC, SP, and AAP have announced they will boycott the Joint Committee’s meetings, signaling deep resistance.
The BJP maintains that the bills are a bold step toward accountability, aiming to ensure leaders facing serious charges cannot cling to power. However, the opposition’s vehement rejection highlights a growing political divide, with accusations of authoritarianism and democratic erosion fueling the contentious debate over the future of India’s governance.
Also Read: Fadnavis Calls Rahul Gandhi a ‘Serial Liar’
