"PM Modi attacking federal structure, regional parties will apart": Congress' Imran Masood on Constitution Amendment Bill

Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], August 25 (ANI): Congress leader Imran Masood on Monday said that the BJP-led Union government is attacking the federal structure, adding that regional parties will apart in the nation if the 130th Constitution Amendment bill is implemented.
The remarks of the Congress leader came in response to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's latest remarks in an interview with ANI, where the latter defended the legislation which has been introduced and referred to the joint committe of both Houses.
"Is it possible to jail the Prime Minister? The prime minister and the central government are attacking the federal structure. The ED has already been made powerful to jail anyone for 30 days. The regional parties will fall apart because once their CM is jailed, you will break their party. This is completely unconstitutional," Masood told ANI.
The 130th Constitution Amendment Bill seeks to remove the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, and ministers in the state government who are facing allegations of corruption or serious offences and have been detained for 30 consecutive days.
Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah defended the bill, questioning whether elected representatives in other countries can run the government from jail.
"Does that suit the dignity of our democracy? Even today, they are trying to say that if they ever have to go to jail, they will easily form the government from jail. The jail will be made CM House, PM House and the DGP, Chief Secretary, Cabinet Secretary, or Home Secretary will take orders from the jail. My party and I completely reject the idea that this country cannot be governed without the person who is sitting there," said Amit Shah in an exclusive interview with ANI.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025 were introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20 and have been referred to a Joint Committee of both the Houses which seek to provide for removal of the Prime Minister or a Minister in the Union Council of Ministers and the Chief Minister or a Minister in the Council of Ministers of States and UTs facing serious criminal charges which are punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years or more and are arrested and detained in custody for more than 30 days.
Meanwhile, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Constitution Amendment Bill.
The former Delhi CM hit out at the Union Home Minister, questioning whether a minister who has been falsely framed and sent to prison, is later acquitted, then "how many years of jail should that person face who falsely implicated the minister?"
"If someone is falsely implicated in a case, sent to jail, and later acquitted, how many years of imprisonment should the minister who falsely implicated him face?" Kejriwal asked.
Kejriwal also justified staying on in power as Delhi CM despite being in Jail.
"At least during the jail government, there were no power cuts, water was supplied, free medicines were available in hospitals and mohalla clinics, free tests were conducted, Delhi wouldn't be in such a bad state after one rain, private schools weren't allowed to act arbitrarily and with thuggery," he said. (ANI)