Attack on Federalism: Kerala CM on Bills to Remove Jailed PM, CMs
In a scathing criticism, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has dubbed the recent Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, tabled in the Parliament, as a “blatant attack on federalism and the rights of states”. According to Vijayan, the Bill seeks to destabilise non-BJP governments by weaponising central agencies and jailing opponents on false charges.
The Bill, which was introduced on April 27, 2023, aims to amend the Constitution to empower the Centre to remove Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, and Ministers who have been arrested or detained for at least 30 days. The move has been widely seen as an attempt by the ruling BJP government to consolidate its power and silence its political opponents.
Vijayan, who has been a vocal critic of the BJP government’s authoritarian tendencies, has slammed the Bill as a “clear and present danger” to the democratic fabric of the country. “This Bill is a deliberate attempt to undermine the federal structure of our country and concentrate power in the hands of the Centre,” he said in a statement.
The Kerala Chief Minister pointed out that the Bill would enable the Centre to remove elected representatives who have been arrested or detained, and install its own loyalists in their place. This, he argued, would be a “brazen violation” of the fundamental principles of democracy and would lead to a “complete breakdown” of the federal system.
Vijayan also expressed concern that the Bill would give the Centre the power to use its agencies to harass and intimidate political opponents. “This is a classic case of the Centre using its agencies to silence its critics and opponents,” he said. “It is a blatant attempt to undermine the rule of law and the Constitution.”
The Bill has been widely criticized by opposition parties and civil society groups, who have accused the BJP government of trying to impose a draconian regime on the country. The Congress, the Left Front, and other opposition parties have already announced that they will oppose the Bill in Parliament.
The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, is the latest in a series of moves by the BJP government to consolidate its power and silence its opponents. In recent months, the government has been accused of using its agencies to target political opponents, journalists, and civil society activists.
The opposition has accused the government of trying to create a “federal coup” by using its agencies to undermine the federal structure of the country. The government has denied these allegations, but the opposition remains adamant that the Bill is a “clear and present danger” to democracy.
As the debate over the Bill continues, it is clear that the stakes are high. If passed, the Bill could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s democratic system, and could lead to a further erosion of the federal structure. It is essential, therefore, that all parties come together to oppose this draconian Bill and defend the principles of federalism and democracy.
News Source:
https://x.com/PTI_News/status/1958168087863132663
