Bill allowing removal of PM, CMs arrested on serious charges; Shashi Tharoor supports bill amid opposition protest

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has voiced support for the bill that permits the removal of the Prime Minister or Chief Ministers if they are arrested on serious charges and remain in custody for 30 days or more. Tharoor said he did not find anything wrong with the bill and added that it should be discussed in detail in Parliament. His response comes at a time when the Congress and other opposition parties are strongly opposing the bill.

Meanwhile, the INDIA alliance criticised the bill, calling it part of an agenda to topple opposition-led governments. The bill could not be presented in Parliament until noon due to continued opposition protests. However, the Online Gaming Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha during the commotion.

The bill brought by the government proposes that if the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or other ministers are imprisoned for at least one month in a case that carries a sentence of five years or more, they can be removed from office. Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced this bill, along with the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, in the Lok Sabha today.

According to the provisions, a Chief Minister or minister, who is in jail, can be removed from office on the 31st day by the President, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. The rule will apply even if the person has not been convicted. Similarly, if the Prime Minister himself is jailed, he must resign on the 31st day. If not, from the next day onwards, he will no longer be eligible to hold office.