Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday accused the Centre of bringing a legislation disqualifying the prime minister and chief ministers facing serious criminal charges solely to harass the Opposition leaders, pressurise regional parties, and engineer revolts within them.
Referring to the Bills introduced in the Lok Sabha to disqualify the prime minister, chief ministers, or ministers placed under arrest for 30 consecutive days on serious charges, Yadav said the move was politically motivated.
"This government wants to trouble Opposition leaders, create pressure on regional parties and prepare revolts within them. They have deliberately brought this Bill to divert attention from the real debate on how they commit dacoity during elections and steal votes," Yadav told reporters at the party headquarters here.
He accused the ruling party of selectively withdrawing criminal cases against its own leaders while using legal action to suppress rivals.
"Our chief minister (Yogi Adityanath) knew this day would come — that is why cases against him were withdrawn. Cases were also withdrawn for the deputy chief minister. The very people bringing this Bill have admitted in several places that false cases were lodged against them. If they could be falsely implicated, then tomorrow someone else can also be framed," Yadav said.
The SP chief cited instances of party leaders being jailed, naming Mohammad Azam Khan, former minister Gayatri Prajapati, MLA Irfan Solanki, and former MP Ramakant Yadav.
"Look at how our leaders are being sent to jail for years. This shows the misuse of power," he added.
Yadav reiterated that his party strongly opposed the Bill, calling it an attack on democratic values and regional political movements.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday introduced three Bills in the Lok Sabha for the removal of the prime minister, chief ministers, and ministers under arrest for 30 consecutive days on serious charges, drawing fierce protests from opposition MPs who tore up copies of the draft law and marched close to his seat shouting slogans.
The Bills were sent by the House to a Joint Committee of Parliament comprising 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha for scrutiny.
The three Bills are the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025; the Constitution (One Hundred And Thirtieth Amendment) Bill 2025; and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025.
The Bills have proposed that if the prime minister, union ministers or chief ministers are arrested and detained in custody for 30 consecutive days for offences that attract a jail term of at least five years, they will lose their jobs on the 31st day.
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