'A Junior Govt Employee Gets Suspended but...': Modi's First Reaction to Bill Sacking Arrested PM, CM, and Ministers

On August 22, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally in Gaya, Bihar, where he made his first public remarks on a controversial set of bills introduced in the Lok Sabha to remove elected officials, including the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Ministers, arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges. Titled the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, along with the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, these bills aim to curb the "criminalisation of politics" by ensuring that leaders cannot govern from jail. Modi’s strong defense of the bills, coupled with his pointed critique of the opposition, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, has sparked a heated debate ahead of Bihar’s assembly elections.

Modi’s Rally in Gaya: A Call for Accountability

Speaking at a massive rally in Gaya, Modi highlighted the disparity in accountability between junior government employees and high-ranking elected officials. He stated, “If a government employee is imprisoned for 50 hours, then he loses his job automatically, be it a driver, a clerk, or a peon. But a CM, a Minister, or even a PM can enjoy staying in the government even from jail.” He argued that the new bills address this loophole, ensuring that elected leaders face the same consequences as ordinary employees for serious offenses.

Modi emphasized that the bills apply to all, including the Prime Minister, underscoring the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) commitment to fighting corruption. “The NDA government has brought a law against corruption, and the Prime Minister also comes under its purview,” he said, referencing high-profile cases where leaders like former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Tamil Nadu Minister Senthil Balaji continued to hold office despite being in custody. Modi questioned, “Some time ago, we saw how files were being signed from jail and how government orders were given from jail. If leaders have such an attitude, how can we fight corruption?”

The Bills: A Seismic Shift in Governance

Introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on August 20, 2025, the three bills propose that any Prime Minister, Union Minister, Chief Minister, or state Minister arrested for offenses punishable by five years or more in prison must resign on the 31st day of detention if bail is not secured. This applies to serious charges, such as those under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and aims to prevent leaders from running governments from behind bars. The bills amend the Constitution, the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, to establish a legal framework for such removals.

The government frames these bills as a moral necessity, arguing that ministers embody “the hopes and aspirations of the people” and must maintain conduct “beyond any ray of suspicion.” The legislation addresses cases like Kejriwal’s, where he remained Delhi’s Chief Minister while in jail for over five months in 2024, and Balaji’s, where he was retained as a minister without portfolio until February 2024. The bills were referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament (JPC) after fierce opposition protests in the Lok Sabha, with the committee tasked to submit its report by the first week of the Winter Session in November 2025.

Opposition’s Outcry: A Threat to Democracy?

The opposition, led by Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and All India Majlis-e-Ittehad Muslimeen (AIMIM), has labeled the bills “draconian” and a potential tool for political misuse. Congress MP Manish Tewari argued that the legislation undermines the principle of “innocent until proven guilty,” as removal is based on detention rather than conviction. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi warned that the bills empower “unelected bureaucracy” and central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to target opposition leaders, likening the move to a “police state.” AAP’s Anurag Dhanda claimed the bills are a step toward “dictatorship,” citing cases like Satyendar Jain, who was jailed for over a year before being cleared of charges.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also opposed the bills, with Stalin calling them a dictator’s move to eliminate rivals and Banerjee labeling them a “super-Emergency.” Critics fear the bills could destabilize opposition-ruled states by enabling the central government to arrest and remove elected leaders through agencies like the ED or CBI, which have faced accusations of selective enforcement. The Supreme Court recently criticized the ED for “crossing all limits,” adding weight to these concerns.

Modi’s Attack on RJD and Congress

Modi used the Gaya rally to take aim at the RJD-Congress alliance, accusing them of a long history of corruption. “The corruption of the RJD is known to every child in Bihar,” he said, contrasting the NDA’s “stain-free” governance with the opposition’s record. He referenced Congress’s 60–65 years of rule, marked by “a long list of corruption cases,” and accused the Mahagathbandhan (RJD-Congress alliance) of failing to value public money. Modi also suggested that opposition leaders are “scared” of the bills because “they know that if they land in jail, all their dreams would be shattered.”

The Prime Minister’s remarks were a strategic move to frame the NDA as a champion of clean governance ahead of Bihar’s elections. He cited the bills as evidence of the government’s resolve to ensure accountability, even at the highest levels, and criticized the opposition for opposing a law “in the public interest.”

Context and Controversy

The bills come in the wake of high-profile cases that exposed gaps in India’s legal framework. For instance, in 2024, Delhi’s government faced a crisis when Kejriwal, arrested in a liquor policy case, refused to resign, nominating Minister Atishi to hoist the national flag on Independence Day. Similarly, Tamil Nadu’s Senthil Balaji remained a minister without portfolio after his 2023 arrest, sparking a standoff with the state’s governor. These incidents, described by Amit Shah as a “bizarre chapter,” prompted the government to act, arguing that the Constitution’s framers never envisioned leaders governing from jail.

However, the opposition’s concerns are not baseless. The ED and CBI have faced allegations of targeting opposition leaders, with cases like Jharkhand’s Hemant Soren, who resigned just before his arrest in 2024, and Satyendar Jain, later cleared of charges, fueling suspicions of political vendettas. Critics argue that the 30-day detention rule could be exploited to oust opposition leaders without conviction, especially given the difficulty of securing bail under laws like the PMLA.

Implications for Indian Politics

The proposed bills represent a significant shift in India’s political landscape. If passed, they could:

• Enhance Accountability: Ensure that elected officials face immediate consequences for serious charges, aligning their accountability with that of civil servants.
• Risk Political Misuse: Empower central agencies to target opposition leaders, potentially destabilizing non-BJP-ruled states.
• Impact Public Trust: Address public frustration with leaders clinging to power despite arrests, but also risk perceptions of executive overreach if misused.

The referral to a JPC offers a chance for broader deliberation, but the polarized reactions suggest a contentious path ahead. The opposition’s protests, including tearing up bill copies in the Lok Sabha, reflect deep mistrust, while the government’s insistence on “constitutional morality” underscores its reform agenda.

Conclusion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first reaction to the bills sacking arrested PMs, CMs, and Ministers highlights a bold push to combat corruption and ensure accountability in Indian politics. By drawing a parallel with junior government employees, Modi framed the legislation as a step toward fairness, while his sharp critique of the RJD-Congress alliance positioned the NDA as a beacon of clean governance. However, the opposition’s fears of political misuse and threats to democratic principles cannot be ignored, especially given recent controversies involving central agencies. As the bills head to a Joint Committee of Parliament, their fate will shape the balance between accountability and democratic safeguards in India’s governance. For now, Modi’s rallying cry in Gaya sets the stage for a fierce political battle in Bihar and beyond.

Disclaimer: This blog is based on reports and statements as of August 22, 2025. The bills are under review by a Joint Committee of Parliament, and their final form may change. Refer to official government sources for updates.