Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticizes BJP’s amendment bill, calling it a step toward “one nation, one party. " (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has lashed out at the BJP for what she considers an attempt at pushing through the recently introduced constitutional amendment bill for the idea of "one nation, one party". She went on to add, on Saturday, that the ruling party is weaponizing laws to undermine democracy while silencing opposition leaders.
Returning to the electoral promises made by the BJP in 2014 for a corruption-free India, Chaturvedi called it a mere political slogan. The government is to be blamed for failing in that regard. "Every citizen wants something transparent and honest in politics, but corruption exists at every level of governance and that proves that it was just a jumla," she told ANI.
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The MP, therefore, stated that in the name of 'One Nation, One Party,' BJP national president JP Nadda made some earlier election speeches during the Lok Sabha elections. According to her, the new constitutional proposal is one of such.
"Whether by the Election Commission or legislative changes much like this, they are systematically working toward that vision. It is deeply undemocratic, and we will oppose it in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)," Chaturvedi said.
Recently, Union Home Minister Amit Shah presented three bills, one of which is the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, to the Lok Sabha. It proposes the automatic removal of all such elected persons, that is, Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers and Union Ministers, from their offices in situations in which they remain in custody for a minimum period of 30 consecutive days on charges that entail punishment for 5 years or more.
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The amendment seeks to amend Articles 75, 164 and 239AA, thus establishing a case for mandatory removal by the President of those ministers on the 31st day of the detention on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The critics say that the bill violates its so-called motto: 'to enforce accountability'. Chaturvedi and other opposition leaders are worried that such central agencies would be made use of to try to remove sitting chief ministers and ministers based on a politically motivated case.
It is now for the opposition to maintain that corruption-free politics is the ideal that everyone must aspire to, but introducing sweeping legislation without safeguards would tip the balance of power in favor of a ruling party, destabilizing India's democratic fabric.
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