New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday defended the proposed Bills that can pave the way for removal of the Prime Minister, chief ministers and central or state ministers if they are arrested or detained for at least 30 days over serious criminal charges. He termed it his administration’s “effort to fight corruption”, declaring that “not a single stain of corruption has tainted” his government. Addressing a public meeting in Bihar’s Gaya, he also launched a scathing attack on the Opposition for raising an outcry over the Bills.
The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, along with the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, were introduced in the Lok Sabha Wednesday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC).
In his first reaction to the Bills and the strong opposition to them, Modi asked: “Why should governments be allowed to run from jail? Should tainted ministers continue with their posts? The public expects leaders to uphold moral integrity.”
“If a government clerk or driver loses his job after being jailed, how can a CM, minister, or even the prime minister continue in power, enjoying government facilities? Some time ago, we saw how files were being signed from jail and orders were issued from jail. If leaders behave like this, how can we fight corruption? This is an insult to Dr Rajendra Prasad and Ambedkar’s Constitution,” he said, in an apparent reference to former Delhi chief ministerArvind Kejriwal who was jailed in connection with a graft case and ran the Delhi government from prison for six months.
“The NDA government has brought a law against corruption, and the Prime Minister himself comes under its purview. We cannot allow the dignity of the Constitution to be torn apart day by day. Under this bill, if a minister, CM or PM does not get bail, they will have to vacate their position,” Modi told the crowds.
He further lashed out at the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar, the Congress and even the Left parties. “The RJD, Congress and Left parties are opposing this law. They are very angry because they know what they are afraid of. They think if they go to jail, all their dreams will be shattered. They are so rattled that they are even opposing a law which is in public interest,” he said.
Adding, “Not a single stain of corruption has tainted our government, whereas Congress governments, which ruled for 60-65 years after Independence, have a long list of corruption cases. Those who are out on bail and busy making rounds of courts are opposing this law. That is why they keep abusing Modi. But now, the corrupt will go to jail, and their chair will also go.”
Modi also alleged that the “corruption of RJD is known to every child in Bihar”.
‘Bihar is facing danger’
At the public meeting, without directly mentioning the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in the poll-bound state by the Election Commission, the Prime Minister spoke about “intruders in Bihar” and attempted to corner the RJD and Congress for alleged appeasement of “illegal migrant voter base”.
“During my Independence Day speech from Red Fort, I had alerted people about a danger. Bihar is also facing this danger. The rising number of intruders is a matter of concern. The demography is changing in the border areas of Bihar, and the NDA government has decided not to let illegal immigrants decide the future of our country. Intruders will not be allowed to snatch the employment of Bihar’s youth,” he said.
“To tackle this threat, I have proposed a demographic mission, which will begin its work shortly. We will throw out every illegal immigrant. People of Bihar must beware of those supporting these immigrants for appeasement and to increase their vote bank. The Congress and RJD want to take away the rights of Bihar’s people and give them to immigrants for votes. Do you want them to take away your land?” he asked.
In another swipe at the RJD and its allies, he said they treated the people of Bihar like a vote bank and had “no concern for the struggles of the poor”.
He further questioned the “lalten (lantern) raj” in the state, referring to the RJD’s poll symbol and previous stint in power, saying the state used to be in the grip of Maoist terror and it was difficult to travel anywhere after dark.
He also accused the Congress of harbouring “hatred towards the people of Bihar”.
“Our effort is to ensure that Bihar’s sons and daughters find employment and live a life of dignity here itself. Bihar’s rapid development is the NDA government’s big priority,” the PM concluded.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)