Opposition Criticizes Government's New Bills as a 'Diversion Tactic'

On Wednesday, opposition leaders voiced concerns over the government's introduction of several new bills in the Lok Sabha, claiming it was a tactic to divert attention from the ongoing 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' led by Rahul Gandhi. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi expressed on X that the bills by Home Minister Amit Shah were a strategic attempt to sideline public focus from Gandhi's movement, ahead of winds of political change he claims are stirring in Bihar.

Among the proposed legislation, the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, drew significant ire from Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi. The bill aims to allow the removal of central or state ministers facing serious charges while detained, which critics argue bypasses federal structure and sovereignty of the judiciary. Moitra remarked on X that the new bill empowers the Union government to target opposition CMs on fabricated charges, thus enabling their removal without trial.

Singhvi further criticized the bill, accusing it of creating a means to destabilize opposition by employing central agencies like ED and CBI to arrest CMs under flimsy pretenses. As listed in the Lok Sabha's agenda, besides the contentious constitutional amendment, bills such as the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and a bill concerning the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 are set for introduction. These pieces of legislation are to be reviewed by a joint parliamentary committee proposed by Amit Shah.

(With inputs from agencies.)