Congress Working Committee member and senior MP Shashi Tharoor has again articulated a perception at odds with his party's position — this time over the controversial 'disqualification' bills.
The legislation suggested aims at making it obligatory for the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and other ministers at the Centre and in states/UTs to resign if they are behind bars for 30 continuous days on charges involving a possible jail term of not less than five years.
Responding to IANS on Wednesday, shortly after the Lok Sabha was adjourned, Tharoor told, "I have not read the bill. My point of view is not the ultimate word. But what I can say is that if someone has committed some errors, he should not be a minister. This is very reasonable. If there is some thinking behind it, I do not know."
He also added, "If a person stays in jail for 30 days, can he remain a minister? This is a question of common sense… I don't see anything wrong in this."
Tharoor's comment was made at a time when the Centre was set to introduce three bills that demand the automatic disqualification of the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, and state Ministers if they stay in jail for a month or more.
Whereas the INDIA bloc and other opposition members had strong objections, Tharoor took a different tone and said, "Let the Bill be discussed in detail by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)," contending that such a detailed examination could very well allay concerns.
The larger opposition, however, accused the move of being politically motivated and to destabilize non-BJP party governments. The leaders of INDIA bloc argued that the bills were aimed at stifling dissent and undermining democratic institutions.
Due to constant disruptions and sloganeering in Parliament, the bills could not be discussed during the morning session.
Proposed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the bill mandates that any incumbent Prime Minister, Chief Minister, or Cabinet Minister who is jailed for 30 consecutive days would be disqualifed from office.
Sources in the government said that once moved, the bills would be put before a JPC for exhaustive examination.
Earlier during the day, the INDIA bloc had held a strategy meeting and decided to resist the moves collectively. Their protests in both Houses not only addressed the disqualification bills but also raised concerns over supposed irregularities in electoral rolls, resulting in repeated adjournments.
In spite of the turmoil, the government made it explicitly clear that it has every intention of pressing the legislation ahead.
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