NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday defended the government’s proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill and dismissed speculation surrounding former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with news agency ANI, Shah put to rest claims of political undercurrents behind the move. “Dhankhar ji was sitting on a constitutional post and during his tenure, he did good work according to the constitution. He has resigned due to his personal health problem. One should not try to stretch it too much and find something,” the Union home minister said.
Dhankhar resigned as VP on July 21, citing health reasons.
On the Constitution Amendment Bill
Speaking on the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, which mandates removal of Prime Ministers, chief ministers and other ministers if jailed for serious offences, Shah expressed confidence that Parliament would back the measure.
“I am sure it will be passed. There will be many people in the Congress party and in the opposition who will support morality and maintain the moral ground,” he said.
Shah accused the opposition of resisting reforms only to safeguard their leaders. “Even today, they are trying that if they ever go to jail, they will easily form the government from jail. The jail will be made CM House, PM House and the DGP, Chief Secretary, Cabinet Secretary or Home Secretary will take orders from the jail,” he remarked.
The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Union home minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session, proposes the removal of any central or state minister, including the Prime Minister or chief minister, if they are arrested and held in custody for at least 30 days on charges related to corruption or serious criminal offences.
Targeting Rahul Gandhi
The home minister also took aim at Rahul Gandhi, lashing out at his "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in Bihar . “There is a big difference between managing a program and communicating with the public,” he said.
He further attacked Gandhi over his past actions. “What was the justification of Rahul Gandhi for tearing the ordinance brought by Manmohan Singh to save Lalu Yadav? If there was morality that day, then is it not there today because you have lost three consecutive elections?”
On Parliament security
Shah also defended the deployment of CISF inside Parliament, rejecting opposition criticism. “The marshals enter the House only when the Speaker orders them. This change happened after a big incident when some Leftist people had sprayed inside the Parliament... They (opposition) need excuses and they want to create confusion among the public. After losing three elections, the level of frustration has made them lose common sense,” he said.
On August 5, during the morning session of the Rajya Sabha, Congress and other Opposition parties caused an uproar, alleging that CISF personnel were deployed in the House the previous week. The Chair and the government strongly denied this, clarifying that the personnel were from parliamentary security services.
Shah endorses CP Radhakrishnan as VP Candidate
Shah also supported the NDA’s decision to name Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its Vice Presidential nominee. “It was natural that the vice presidential candidate comes from South India because the President is from East India and the Prime Minister is from the West and North,” Shah told ANI.
Dismissing suggestions that the BJP aimed to gain traction in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls, Shah emphasised that Radhakrishnan’s nomination was based on merit. “We have contested elections in Tamil Nadu before with allies. We have also won seats. If we were to name anyone from anywhere, these kinds of questions will be raised,” he said.
Shah on Sudershan Reddy
Shah criticised the opposition bloc’s Vice Presidential candidate, retired Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, over his controversial 2011 judgment disbanding the Salwa Judum. Shah blamed the ruling for enabling the survival of Naxal extremism.
“Due to this judgment, the Naxals have been protected,” he told ANI. He claimed that the Salwa Judum, formed by Adivasis to protect their villages, was dismantled, stripping locals of self-defence. “He disbanded Salwa Judum. He ended the right to self-defence for Adivasis,” Shah said.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with news agency ANI, Shah put to rest claims of political undercurrents behind the move. “Dhankhar ji was sitting on a constitutional post and during his tenure, he did good work according to the constitution. He has resigned due to his personal health problem. One should not try to stretch it too much and find something,” the Union home minister said.
Dhankhar resigned as VP on July 21, citing health reasons.
On the Constitution Amendment Bill
Speaking on the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, which mandates removal of Prime Ministers, chief ministers and other ministers if jailed for serious offences, Shah expressed confidence that Parliament would back the measure.
“I am sure it will be passed. There will be many people in the Congress party and in the opposition who will support morality and maintain the moral ground,” he said.
Shah accused the opposition of resisting reforms only to safeguard their leaders. “Even today, they are trying that if they ever go to jail, they will easily form the government from jail. The jail will be made CM House, PM House and the DGP, Chief Secretary, Cabinet Secretary or Home Secretary will take orders from the jail,” he remarked.
The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Union home minister Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session, proposes the removal of any central or state minister, including the Prime Minister or chief minister, if they are arrested and held in custody for at least 30 days on charges related to corruption or serious criminal offences.
Targeting Rahul Gandhi
The home minister also took aim at Rahul Gandhi, lashing out at his "Voter Adhikar Yatra" in Bihar . “There is a big difference between managing a program and communicating with the public,” he said.
He further attacked Gandhi over his past actions. “What was the justification of Rahul Gandhi for tearing the ordinance brought by Manmohan Singh to save Lalu Yadav? If there was morality that day, then is it not there today because you have lost three consecutive elections?”
On Parliament security
Shah also defended the deployment of CISF inside Parliament, rejecting opposition criticism. “The marshals enter the House only when the Speaker orders them. This change happened after a big incident when some Leftist people had sprayed inside the Parliament... They (opposition) need excuses and they want to create confusion among the public. After losing three elections, the level of frustration has made them lose common sense,” he said.
On August 5, during the morning session of the Rajya Sabha, Congress and other Opposition parties caused an uproar, alleging that CISF personnel were deployed in the House the previous week. The Chair and the government strongly denied this, clarifying that the personnel were from parliamentary security services.
Shah endorses CP Radhakrishnan as VP Candidate
Shah also supported the NDA’s decision to name Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan as its Vice Presidential nominee. “It was natural that the vice presidential candidate comes from South India because the President is from East India and the Prime Minister is from the West and North,” Shah told ANI.
Dismissing suggestions that the BJP aimed to gain traction in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls, Shah emphasised that Radhakrishnan’s nomination was based on merit. “We have contested elections in Tamil Nadu before with allies. We have also won seats. If we were to name anyone from anywhere, these kinds of questions will be raised,” he said.
Shah on Sudershan Reddy
Shah criticised the opposition bloc’s Vice Presidential candidate, retired Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, over his controversial 2011 judgment disbanding the Salwa Judum. Shah blamed the ruling for enabling the survival of Naxal extremism.
“Due to this judgment, the Naxals have been protected,” he told ANI. He claimed that the Salwa Judum, formed by Adivasis to protect their villages, was dismantled, stripping locals of self-defence. “He disbanded Salwa Judum. He ended the right to self-defence for Adivasis,” Shah said.
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