3 defeats changed morality? Amit Shah slams Rahul Gandhi

Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday slammed the opposition for opposing the proposed bills seeking removal of ministers from office if they are arrested and remain in custody.Shah also accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of double standards and recalled how he called the 2013 ordinance by Manmohan Singh-led UPA government "nonsense". Referring to a 2013 incident, Shah said that Rahul Gandhi had 'torn' an ordinance brought by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to benefit RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, and questioned as to why the Congress leader was now opposing the 'criminal netas' bill.

"Why did Rahul tear up the ordinance that Manmohan Singh brought to protect Lalu? If there was morality that day, then what happened now? Just because you have lost three consecutive elections? Morality standards are not connected with victory or loss in elections. They should be steady like the Sun and the Moon," Shah questioned in an interview with news agency ANI. The ordinance gave convicted lawmakers a three-month reprieve to retain their seats following Lalu Prasad Yadav's conviction in the Fodder scam. It effectively negated a Supreme Court order on the disqualification of convicted MPs and MLAs and was later withdrawn.

Shah strongly defended the bill, adding that it applies equally to all political parties, including the ruling BJP. “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. The bill mandates the automatic removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Ministers if they are arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days on charges punishable by imprisonment of five years or more.He also asked whether it would be right if the PM of the country or a CM runs the government from jail in case of imprisonment. He accused the opposition of wanting to "run the government from jail".

He said that during former PM Indira Gandhi's tenure, the opposition tried to shield the prime minister, and even in the present day, they are trying that if any INDIA bloc leader goes to jail, they will easily form the government from there. "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, Can a country be run this way?" Shah asked.