Attack on Federalism: Kerala CM on Bills to Remove Jailed PM, CMs
The recent move by the Union government to table the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025 in the Parliament has sparked widespread outrage and concern among opposition parties and civil society organizations. The Bill seeks to remove Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and Ministers who have been arrested or detained for at least 30 days. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has been vocal in his criticism of the Bill, calling it a “blatant attack on federalism and the rights of states.”
According to Vijayan, the Bill is an attempt to destabilize non-BJP governments by weaponizing central agencies and jailing opponents on false charges. He believes that the Bill is a clear violation of the principles of federalism and the rights of states enshrined in the Constitution. “This Bill is a recipe for disaster and will undermine the very fabric of our democratic system,” Vijayan said in a statement.
The Kerala Chief Minister’s concerns are not unfounded. The Bill, if passed, would give the central government unprecedented powers to interfere in the affairs of states. It would allow the central government to remove elected representatives of the people from office without a fair trial or due process. This would be a clear violation of the principles of natural justice and would undermine the trust of the people in the democratic system.
Vijayan is not the only one who has raised concerns about the Bill. Other opposition parties, including the Congress and the Left parties, have also spoken out against the Bill, calling it an attempt to undermine federalism and the rights of states. The Bill has also been criticized by civil society organizations, including human rights groups and women’s rights organizations, who see it as a threat to democracy and the rule of law.
The Bill has been tabled in the Parliament at a time when the country is already facing a severe political crisis. The ruling BJP has been accused of using central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department, to harass and intimidate its political opponents. The Bill would give the central government even more powers to interfere in the affairs of states and would further undermine the already fragile democratic institutions of the country.
The Kerala Chief Minister has called upon the opposition parties to come together to reject the Bill and to protect the rights of states and the federal system. He has also urged the people of the country to rise up against the Bill and to defend democracy and the Constitution.
In conclusion, the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025 is a clear attack on federalism and the rights of states. It seeks to undermine the democratic system and to give the central government unprecedented powers to interfere in the affairs of states. The Bill has been criticized by opposition parties, civil society organizations, and human rights groups, and it is the duty of all those who believe in democracy and the Constitution to reject it and to protect the rights of states and the federal system.
