PM Modi Refuses Special Exemption In Bills On Removal Of PM, CMs, Ministers: Kiren Rijiju

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday disclosed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi declined an exemption for himself while the government framed new bills concerning the removal of the prime minister, chief ministers, and ministers if they are jailed for serious offences.

Rijiju said that during a Cabinet discussion, it was recommended that the prime minister be kept out of the ambit of the proposed legislation. However, Modi rejected the suggestion, stating that he too is a citizen and should not enjoy special protection.

"PM Modi told the Cabinet that the recommendation was to exclude the prime minister from the bill, but he disagreed. The PM refused any exception, making it clear that ethics should apply equally. If most of the chief ministers, many from our own party, do something wrong, they too should vacate their positions," Rijiju told ANI.

The bills, introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, faced fierce opposition in Parliament, with protests, sloganeering, and even copies of the draft legislation being torn and thrown at Shah. Despite the uproar, the bills were passed through a voice vote and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further examination.

Opposition leaders have slammed the proposed amendments as "draconian" and "unconstitutional," alleging they are intended to target chief ministers in states ruled by non-BJP parties through central investigative agencies.