Congress to Challenge Proposed Constitutional Amendment in Parliament
Congress Opposes Constitutional Amendment Bill
A file image of Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh (Photo:X)
New Delhi, Jul 5: The Congress party has declared its intention to vehemently oppose a proposed amendment to the Constitution that seeks to dismiss ministers who have been in custody for 30 days due to serious criminal charges.
This announcement follows reports indicating that a parliamentary committee is set to finalize its report on the legislation concerning the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and other ministers facing criminal allegations, with plans to present it in the Lok Sabha during the upcoming Monsoon Session starting July 20.
Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary responsible for communications, accused the government of using this legislation as a tool for "political harassment" against its opponents.
"The 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill is a dangerous proposal that we will oppose. It was first introduced in August 2025 and later sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), which many opposition parties chose to boycott," Ramesh stated in an interview.
According to the Bill, any minister incarcerated for 30 consecutive days for a crime punishable by over five years would be automatically dismissed on the 31st day, as explained by Ramesh.
He noted that the government could seek approval for the draft legislation from the Union Cabinet before its introduction in Parliament.
"This situation is unprecedented. Legal proceedings are ongoing, and in India, one is presumed innocent until proven guilty. We are all aware of how investigative agencies have been operating under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah," Ramesh remarked.
He further described the Bill as a manifestation of "political vendetta" and "political vengeance," aimed at ensuring the harassment of political rivals.
Ramesh expressed confidence that if the government attempts to push through the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill regarding the dismissal of ministers and the delimitation Bill, they will not secure a two-thirds majority, as evidenced by their defeat on April 17.
Sources indicate that the Joint Committee is expected to adopt reports on the 130th Amendment Bill, the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill in its next meeting on July 17.