The Lok Sabha witnessed a sharp exchange between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal during a discussion about the 130th constitutional amendment. The amendment, presented on Wednesday, prompted a heated back-and-forth, particularly after Venugopal made remarks that drew a strong reaction from Shah. The primary source of tension was Venugopal’s reference to a past event.
Venugopal brought up the 2010 Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, mentioning Shah’s role as Gujarat’s Home Minister at the time. He questioned whether Shah was arrested then and whether he had adhered to ethical principles. This comment caused immediate disruption within the House.
Responding to Venugopal, Amit Shah challenged him on the matter of ethics. Shah stated that he too had faced legal proceedings and imprisonment, but had resigned his position before the case progressed. He pointed out that he did not hold any governmental office during the legal proceedings.
The 130th constitutional amendment proposes crucial changes. It seeks to place key figures, including Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, and the Prime Minister, under legal jurisdiction. It permits the removal of Ministers and Chief Ministers in cases of arrest or detention, and compels resignation if judicial custody exceeds 30 days. The government views this as an important measure to tackle criminal activity in politics. The amendment also includes a provision requiring the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and cabinet members to resign if they fail to obtain bail within a month of being arrested for any crime.