Nothing short of 'Hitlerian assault': Mamata tears into Centre over Bill to remove ministers on graft charges

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (File: ANI)

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which seeks to remove any minister at the Centre or in states who are jailed or detained on graft charges for 30 days, as a "Hitlerian assault" on Indian democracy and akin to something "more than a super Emergency".

"I condemn the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, proposed to be tabled by the Government of India today. I condemn it as a step towards something that is more than a super-Emergency, a step to end the democratic era of India forever. This draconian step comes as a death knell for democracy and federalism in India," Banerjee said in a post on X.

"To suppress the voting rights of the Indian citizens in the name of Special Intensive Revision (SIR), this is another super-draconian step by the Centre now," she said.

"This Bill now wants to finish the independence of our judiciary. What we are witnessing is unprecedented – the Bill is nothing short of a Hitlerian assault on the very soul of Indian democracy. The Bill seeks to strip the judiciary of its Constitutional role – to take away the power of Courts to adjudicate on matters that lie at the very heart of justice and federal balance," she stated.

Mamata said that the step was "regression" and not reform. "This is how authoritarian regimes, even fascist ones in history, consolidated power. It reeks of the very mindset that the world once condemned in the darkest chapters of the 20th century,” Banerjee added.

The Chief Minister further said that to weaken the courts is akin to weakening the people and that denying them the right to seek justice is to deny them democracy itself.

"The Bill strikes at the basic structure of the Constitution – federalism, separation of powers, and judicial review – principles that even Parliament cannot override. If allowed to pass, it will be a death warrant for Constitutional governance in India," she wrote, adding that this "dangerous overreach" must be resisted.

Mamata further said that the Bill seeks to empower the Union to intrude upon the mandate of the people, "handing sweeping powers to unelected authorities (ED, CBI – whom the Supreme Court has described as ‘caged parrots’) to interfere in the functioning of elected State governments".

It is a step to empower the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister in a sinister manner at the expense of the basic principles of our Constitution, wrote Banerjee.

“The Bill must be resisted at any cost! Democracy must be saved at this moment! The people will not forgive any attempt to take away their Courts, their rights, and their democracy,” she added.

Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday introduced the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to remove any central or state minister who faces allegations of corruption or serious offences and has been detained for at least 30 days.

The Bill proposes to amend Article 75 of the Constitution, which primarily deals with the appointment and responsibilities of the Council of Ministers, including the Prime Minister.

MPs from the Trinamool Congress and the BJP allegedly came close to blows amid an ugly scuffle inside the Lok Sabha even as Shah introduced the Bill in Lok Sabha.

Shah also moved a motion in the Lok Sabha to refer the three bills introduced to a joint committee of Parliament which was passed by voice vote.