Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju addresses the Lok Sabha amid chaos, urging Opposition MPs to participate in discussions on key bills (PTI)
The Lok Sabha saw pandemonium on Wednesday as Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three major bills are the Constitution 130th Amendment Bill, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Amendment Bill and the Government of Union Territories Amendment Bill. The disqualification of the Prime Minister and chief ministers jailed for more than 30 consecutive days formed the basis for these legislations, which were strongly objected to by the Opposition, calling them draconian and a blow to federal principles.
In the din, Trinamool Congress MPs Mitali Bag and Satabdi Roy stated that Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Ravneet Singh Bittu had "pushed and heckled" them inside the House. "While we were protesting, they pushed us. This is condemnable," said Mitali Bag in an ANI video. There has been no official word from BJP on these serious accusations so far.
ALSO READ: Govt to Table 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha: Amit Shah
Amid the shouting, the opposition MPs, including Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Manish Tewari as well as AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, ripped copies of the bills and threw them toward the Treasury benches. Proceedings cannot be continued until 5 PM, given the fierce confrontation. According to the opposition, the proposed legislations undermine constitutional safeguards, federal structure and the balance of power between the Centre and the states.
Amit Shah rejected allegations of haste, assuring the bills would go to a Joint Committee of Parliament, where both Houses members, including those in opposition, could put forth their suggestions.
ALSO READ: PM Modi Hails Amit Shah as India’s Longest-Serving Home Minister
He stated that since governance in Union Territories is very sensitive, the reforms were needed to bring clarity and accountability into governance.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju found himself the subject of allegations of misconduct and dismissed the opposition tactics as disruptive and counterproductive. "The more chaos you create, the more public will reject you," he said, calling on MPs to discuss constructively rather than engage in protests. He also criticized the opposition for preventing the House from honoring Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, hero of the country’s space mission an act he called shameful.
The day's events not only revealed the deepening hostility inflicted on the opposition by the ruling BJP but also the high stakes involved in the proposed legal reforms. With allegations of physical confrontations inside Parliament and the increasing distrust between the two parties, expert observers predict a torrid and turbulent path ahead for these troubling bills from now on.
ALSO READ: Ministers, CMs, PM Could Lose Office If in Jail for 30 Days: Amit Shah Introduces New Bills
