Amit Shah talking about morality is ‘greatest joke of century’: Congress MP Manickam Tagore

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Monday took a jibe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling it the “greatest joke of the century” that Shah was speaking about morality.

Tagore’s remarks came in response to Shah’s interview with ANI editor Smita Prakash, where the Home Minister expressed confidence that the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, would be passed despite opposition criticism. The bill, which has been sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee of 31 members, proposes automatic removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Ministers if they are arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days on charges carrying at least five years of imprisonment.

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Defending the bill, Shah said it was meant to uphold “constitutional morality” and public trust, and stressed that it would apply to leaders across party lines. He cited former PM Indira Gandhi’s 39th Amendment that protected top constitutional posts from judicial review, contrasting it with the Modi government’s move.

Tagore, however, dismissed Shah’s defence, alleging the Home Minister was “not qualified” to speak on morality. “The greatest joke of the century is Amit Shah talking of morality. The person who was sent out of Gujarat, responsible for organised police attacks, is now speaking of morality. Even BJP’s allies are opposing this bill. It will be defeated in Parliament,” he told ANI.

#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand | On Union HM Amit Shah’s interview to ANI, Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth says, “The Opposition trusts no one, neither the Constitution, the Parliament, any agencies, Election Commission, the ED, nor the Income Tax. They raised… pic.x.com/4i49SlaisM

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2025

RJD MP Manoj Jha also criticised the government, saying the bill was an attempt to “finish both internal and external opposition.” Referring to recent Supreme Court observations on the Enforcement Directorate, Jha accused the Centre of misusing agencies for political ends.

Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel termed the amendment a “weapon in the hands of police officers,” questioning the way it was introduced on the last day of session without consulting the Speaker. “Amit Shah should not talk about morality,” Baghel said.

On the other hand, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal backed the proposal, describing it as a step towards “good governance.” He argued that public sentiment was in favour of removing any minister, chief minister, or even the prime minister from office if jailed for more than 30 days on a serious charge. “How will the state be governed otherwise? This is a progressive law,” Meghwal said.

On Union HM Amit Shah’s interview to ANI, Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth said, “The Opposition trusts no one, neither the Constitution, the Parliament, any agencies, Election Commission, the ED, nor the Income Tax. They raised questions against Operation Sindoor, the surgical strike and the air strike. That is the reason no one takes him (Rahul Gandhi) seriously. He speaks against the nation every time he is abroad… This is the reason the people of the country have made you sit aside… He is attacking the constitutional structure of the country… The Indian voters trust PM Modi…”