Opposition Slams ‘Criminal Neta Bill’, Calls It a Threat to Democracy
New Delhi: The Centre’s newly introduced ‘Criminal Neta Bill’ has triggered a political storm, with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and several other opposition parties denouncing it as “unconstitutional” and designed to target political rivals.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the legislation’s true purpose is to jail opposition leaders and destabilise non-BJP governments. “The Modi government is bringing an unconstitutional bill. Its aim is not to tackle corruption but to topple opposition governments and undermine democracy,” he said. Singh further claimed the BJP “loves corruption and corrupt people” and will use the law to settle political scores.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah defended the bills, dismissing the opposition’s criticism. Referring to AAP convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who was arrested in 2024 in the alleged Delhi liquor scam, Shah remarked, “Had he quit while he was in jail, there would have been no need to bring this law.”
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin also condemned the bill, calling it a threat to federalism and asserting that Chief Minister MK Stalin would “never allow the bill to become law.”
The package of three bills — the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 — was introduced in Parliament earlier this week. Shah described them as a major anti-corruption step and moved to refer them to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for scrutiny.
A key provision of the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill mandates the automatic removal of a prime minister, chief minister, or minister if they remain in judicial custody for 30 consecutive days for offences punishable by five years or more — even without conviction. This would bring elected leaders on par with civil servants, who face suspension upon arrest.
While the government insists the legislation will strengthen accountability, the opposition has branded it “draconian” and accused the BJP of planning to misuse it to frame opposition leaders, imprison chief ministers, and destabilise state governments.
