"I Resigned Before Arrest": Amit Shah’s Reply to Congress on Morality

A fiery exchange in Parliament erupts as Amit Shah hits back at Congress over new bills targeting ministers under arrest, citing his own resignation in 2010.

Heated Debate in Parliament Over Morality and New Resignation Rule

A sharp war of words broke out in the Lok Sabha between Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress MP KC Venugopal over newly introduced bills aimed at automatically removing elected ministers if arrested and in custody for over 30 days on serious charges.

KC Venugopal Questions Shah’s “Morality”

Congress leader KC Venugopal called the new bills an attack on federalism and the Constitution, stating:

“BJP is talking about morality in politics. But when Amit Shah was Gujarat’s Home Minister, he was arrested. Did he uphold morality then?”

Amit Shah’s Blunt Response: “I Resigned Before I Was Arrested”

Responding swiftly, Amit Shah countered with a strong personal example:

“Fake allegations were levelled against me, but I upheld morality. I resigned even before I was arrested and held no constitutional post until cleared.”

He added:

“They’re trying to teach us morality?”
“We can’t be so shameless that we stay in office even when charged.”
“I want morality in politics. That’s why I resigned.”

What the New Bills Say

On Wednesday, Shah introduced three key bills:

Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025
Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025

Key Provision:

Any Prime Minister, Union Minister, Chief Minister, or State Minister who is:

Arrested and kept in custody for 30 days
For an offence punishable by at least 5 years in prison

…will be automatically removed on Day 31, or must resign.

Opposition Calls It a Political Weapon

Several opposition leaders slammed the bills as politically motivated:

🔹 Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

“This is draconian. Tomorrow, a CM could be arrested without conviction and removed. It’s anti-constitutional and undemocratic.”

🔹 Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM Chief)

“These bills are unconstitutional. The BJP wants to turn India into a police state. Who will arrest the Prime Minister?”

What Happens Next?

The bills have been sent to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)
The JPC has been asked to present its report during the next Parliament session
Amit Shah assured that the opposition can voice concerns before the panel

The clash between morality and political strategy continues to stir debate in Indian politics. As the government pushes forward with bold reforms targeting accountability, the opposition warns of overreach and authoritarian risks. With both sides holding their ground, all eyes are now on the committee’s next move.