The Congress party is likely to boycott the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) scrutinizing three controversial Bills aimed at the removal of high-ranking government officials arrested for over 30 days on serious charges. Party sources confirmed this decision on Monday, indicating it will be formally communicated to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla shortly.
This potential boycott aligns with the decisions of at least three other opposition parties—Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Aam Aadmi Party—which have already announced their non-participation in the committee. Additionally, the Samajwadi Party has expressed support for a coordinated opposition boycott. While several parties remain undecided, none have indicated an intention to join the committee at this time.
In remarks earlier this month, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated that no party had officially notified him regarding a boycott of the JPC.
“On the issue of JPC, no political party has communicated to me in writing on this subject,”
Birla noted when speaking to reporters.
Context of the Controversial Bills
On the final day of the recent Monsoon Session, Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three significant Bills in the Lok Sabha:
- The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill
- The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill
- The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill
These proposed legislations could allow for the removal of Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and other ministers if they face arrest for a cumulative period of 30 consecutive days on serious charges.
The introduction of these Bills sparked intense opposition protests, with various parties condemning them as unconstitutional and politically motivated measures designed to target opposition leaders across multiple states.
Currently, the House has referred these Bills to a joint committee of Parliament for thorough examination, which is expected to include 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. However, as of now, the committee has not yet been constituted.
The ongoing situation highlights a significant development in Indian politics where opposition parties unite against what they perceive as government overreach and legislative manipulation. As the Congress party plans to boycott the JPC, it sets the tone for an increased level of scrutiny regarding the government’s legislative activities and aims to mobilize public opinion against these controversial proposals.
