Oppn slams govt over Bills for removal of PM, CMs, ministers

CONG TERMS THESE BILLS 'WEAPON OF MASS DISTRACTION'

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday claimed the Bills proposing the removal of the prime minister, chief ministers, and ministers under arrest for 30 days on serious charges were a "WMD -- weapon of mass distraction".

It claimed the Bills were aimed at diverting attention from "vote chori", a strong Opposition candidate for the vice presidential polls and the problems in the India-US ties.

Congress general secretary in-charge, communications, Jairam Ramesh, said the BJP's "anti-corruption credentials" were restricted to "operating a washing machine" and alleged the bills introduced by Amit Shah were "unconstitutional and anti-democratic".

Union Home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday introduced in the Lok Sabha three Bills for the removal of the prime minister, chief ministers, and ministers under arrest for 30 consecutive days on serious charges, drawing fierce protests from opposition MPs who tore up copies of the draft law and marched close to his seat shouting slogans.

On Shah's proposal, the Bills were sent by the House to a Joint Committee of Parliament comprising 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha for scrutiny.