INDIA Bloc Opposes Bill Disqualifying Jailed Ministers, Says Venugopal

Quick Summary

• Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025 seeks to disqualify Ministers, including the Prime Minister, who spend 30 consecutive days in jail; opposed by Congress’ INDIA bloc as an attack on federalism.
• Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal termed the bill “draconian,” asserting it removes people’s powers to decide Ministers and could be used for targeting politicians.
• allegations were made that legislations like the Waqf Bill are divisive and aimed at particular communities.
• Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi leads protests against Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar; it is indeed claimed that lakhs have lost voting rights due to manipulation.
• Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called SIR an attack on democracy, while Kapil Sibal criticized it as a strategy by BJP to manipulate electoral outcomes through tampering with voters’ lists.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The controversies surrounding the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill and the Special intensive Revision of voter lists highlight deep disputes over electoral integrity and governance structures. While constitutional amendments frequently enough arise from practical needs or democratic deliberation, critics allege authoritarian motives behind such proposals if framed without consensus or openness. The allegations regarding systematic exclusion of voters raise concerns about India’s democratic framework since free and fair elections form its backbone.

The debate reflects broader tensions between centralization of power versus federal autonomy-an enduring issue in India’s governance model given its diversity. Ensuring robust checks-and-balances will be pivotal for preserving trust across political spectrums while safeguarding voting rights universally promotes long-term stability within democratic institutions.

Read more at The Hindu.