Opposition stands exposed before people, INDIA bloc "shamelessly united to shield corruption": Amit Shah on Constitution Amendment Bill

New Delhi [India], August 20 : Hitting out at the opposition parties for their opposition to the introduction in Lok Sabha of constitutional amendment bill that will prevent people from holding constitutional positions like Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or Union and State Minister while in jail, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the "INDI Alliance, under Congress's leadership, shamelessly united to oppose it in a disgraceful manner to shield corruption".
He said the Opposition stands completely exposed before the people.
Amit Shah referred to the spat with Congress leader KC Venugopal when he was introducing the three bills.
"Today in the House, a Congress leader made a personal remark against me, saying that when the Congress trapped me in a completely fabricated case and had me arrested, I did not resign. I want to remind Congress that I had resigned even before being arrested. I did not hold any constitutional position, even after being released on bail, until the court fully acquitted me," Amit Shah said.
"The fake case against me was dismissed by the court with the clear observation that it was motivated by political vendetta. The BJP and the NDA have always stood for moral values. Shri Lal Krishna Advani Ji too had resigned from his post merely on the basis of allegations. On the other hand, the Congress party continues to carry forward the unethical tradition started by Smt. Indira Gandhi," he added.
He also attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and accused him of double-standards.
"The very same Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav Ji, to safeguard whom from the law the Congress party had once brought an ordinance, a move that was opposed by Shri Rahul Gandhi too--is being embraced by Rahul Gandhi at Gandhi Maidan in Patna today. The people clearly understand this double standard," he said.
Amit Shah said it had been made clear that the bills will be referred to the JPC for further scrutiny.
"It was already made clear that this bill would be referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee of Parliament for detailed discussion, yet the entire INDI Alliance, under Congress's leadership, shamelessly united to oppose it in a disgraceful manner to shield corruption," he said.
He said while the Congress's work culture and policy have been to place the prime minister above the law through constitutional amendments, the BJP's policy is to bring our own prime minister, ministers, and chief ministers under the ambit of law.
"On one hand, PM Shri @narendramodi Ji has introduced a constitutional amendment to bring himself into the ambit of law. On the other hand, under the leadership of Congress, the entire opposition has opposed it in order to remain above the law, run governments from jail, and cling to power. The nation also remembers the time when, in this very august House, then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi Ji, through Constitutional Amendment No. 39, granted special privilege to the Prime Minister, ensuring that no legal action could be taken against her," he said.
Earlier today, Venugopal and Amit Shah engaged in a verbal spat in Lok Sabha over introduction of three bills.
Venugopal alleged the bill is meant to sabotage the basic principles of the Constitution.
"BJP members are saying that this bill is to bring morality into politics. Can I ask the Home Minister a question?" When he was the Home Minister of Gujarat, he was arrested -- did he uphold morality at that time?" he asked.
Shah hit back. "Before I was arrested, I resigned on moral grounds, and until I was declared innocent by the court, I did not accept any constitutional position," he said.
The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025' were referred to the Joint Committee of Parliament after Union Home Minister Amit Shah introduced them in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.