West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the Centre over the Constitution (130th) Amendment Bill, 2025, alleging it is a move “more than a super-Emergency” that would permanently end democracy in India.
Taking to her X handle shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah tabled the bill in the Lok Sabha, Mamata wrote: “I condemn the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, proposed to be tabled, by the Government of India today. I condemn it as a step towards something that is more than a super- Emergency, a step to end the democratic era of India for ever. This draconian step comes as a death knell for democracy and federalism in India.”
According to the provisions of the Bill, if the Prime Minister, a Union Minister, Chief Minister or any state minister is in custody for 30 consecutive days on serious charges that carry imprisonment of five years or more, the individual will be compelled to resign from office on the 31st day.
Mamata lashed out at the Centre, arguing that the Bill undermines judicial independence and democratic principles. “Nothing short of a Hitlerian assault on the very soul of Indian democracy,” she said.
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Calling upon the entire opposition to block the Bill, the Chief Minister declared: “The Bill must be resisted at any cost! Democracy must be saved at this moment! The people will not forgive any attempt to take away their Courts, their rights, and their democracy.”
She further described Shah’s move as a “Black Day Black Bill” in the history of Parliament, warning: “If allowed to pass, it will be a death warrant for Constitutional governance in India.”
Mamata also accused the BJP of misusing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), quoting the Supreme Court’s description of them as “caged parrots.”
“The Bill seeks to empower the Union to intrude upon the mandate of the people, handing sweeping powers to unelected authorities (ED, CBI) to interfere in the functioning of elected State governments. It is a step to empower the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister in a sinister manner at the expense of the basic principles of our Constitution,” she posted.
TMC’s parliamentary party leader Abhishek Banerjee echoed the Chief Minister’s concerns, stating: “The Centre has completely failed to fulfill its responsibility of protecting the sovereignty of the nation. The Centre is trying in every way to topple the state government.” The TMC’s national general secretary alleged that the Amendment Bill is a calculated attempt to destabilize elected governments.
The controversy has gained significance in the backdrop of arrests of several high-profile politicians. In West Bengal, former education minister Partha Chatterjee was arrested in the teacher recruitment scam, while former food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick was jailed in the ration corruption case. Chatterjee was removed from the ministry within five days of his arrest, Mallick continued as a minister for over three months before being relieved.
Similarly, in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal remained in office despite being imprisoned in Tihar Jail in connection with the excise corruption case, as there was no constitutional provision requiring resignation.
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