Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra fiercely criticized proposed bills that would allow the removal of a prime minister, Union ministers, chief ministers, or state ministers arrested on serious criminal charges, labeling them as "draconian" and "undemocratic." Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex today, she accused the BJP-led central government of attempting to deceive the public by framing these measures as anti-corruption efforts.
"These bills are a completely draconian thing. They go against everything democratic," Priyanka Gandhi stated. "To present them as anti-corruption measures is just pulling the wool over people’s eyes. You don’t even need a conviction—just arrest a chief minister for 30 days, and they’re out of office." She highlighted the potential for misuse, warning that the laws could enable the government to target opposition leaders with baseless charges, effectively sidelining them without due process.
The proposed legislation, set to be introduced in Parliament on Wednesday, would allow the removal of high-ranking officials arrested or detained on serious criminal charges, even before a conviction. Critics, including the Congress party, argue this opens the door to political vendettas.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi echoed Priyanka Gandhi’s concerns, alleging the BJP is pushing these laws to destabilize opposition-led state governments after failing to defeat them in elections. "This is a clear attempt to weaponize central agencies to remove opposition chief ministers arbitrarily," Singhvi said on Tuesday.
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Priyanka Gandhi further described the bills as a direct assault on India’s Constitution and democratic principles. "It’s absolutely wrong and anti-democratic," she said, emphasizing that the lack of a conviction requirement undermines justice and fair governance. The Congress party has vowed to oppose the bills, warning they could erode democratic norms and centralize power.
As the debate intensifies, political analysts predict a heated showdown in Parliament, with opposition parties rallying against what they see as a blatant power grab by the ruling BJP. The controversy underscores growing tensions between the central government and opposition-led states, raising questions about the future of political accountability in India.
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