In a heated exchange in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP K. C. Venugopal raised questions about the BJP’s claim of upholding morality in politics. Referring to the new bills introduced by the government that seek to automatically remove ministers, including the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers, if they are under arrest for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges, Venugopal asked whether Amit Shah himself had maintained morality when he was arrested during his tenure as Gujarat’s Home Minister. The Congress leader’s pointed remark directly challenged the credibility of the Union Home Minister while highlighting what the opposition views as the ruling party’s selective morality.
Responding to this, Amit Shah hit back with a strong reply. He clarified that the charges against him at the time were false and politically motivated. He emphasized that he had resigned from his post before his arrest and refrained from holding any constitutional position until the courts cleared his name. By doing so, Shah claimed, he had demonstrated his respect for ethics and morality in public life. He argued that unlike others, he did not cling to power while facing allegations, making his case that his conduct stood on the moral high ground.
The confrontation took place against the backdrop of Shah introducing three crucial bills, including the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025. This bill proposes the removal of Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, or other ministers if they remain under arrest for 30 days on serious criminal charges. The BJP has defended the move as a step toward cleansing politics of criminal influence and ensuring that those holding high offices maintain the highest moral standards.
However, the opposition has strongly contested the bills, calling them draconian, anti-federal, and undemocratic. They argue that such laws could be misused by those in power to target political rivals and destabilize governments. Critics believe the bills threaten the balance of India’s federal structure by giving the central government excessive leverage over states and political opponents.
In the end, the clash between Amit Shah and the Congress over the issue of morality was not just about past allegations but also about the broader political battle surrounding the new legislation. While the BJP projects these bills as a landmark moment to uphold ethics in governance, the opposition continues to see them as politically motivated tools. The sharp exchange in Parliament reflected this larger conflict over morality, accountability, and the true intent behind the government’s push for these constitutional changes.
