Arvind Kejriwal hit back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the proposed Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025, demanding punishment for those who frame political rivals in false cases. Kejriwal claimed his 160-day “jail government” performed better than Delhi’s current BJP regime, intensifying the debate on the controversial “sack bill.”
In a sharp counterattack to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks on the proposed Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday demanded strict action against those who frame political opponents in false cases to have them imprisoned. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader alleged that the BJP-led central government had conspired to implicate him in a fabricated case and jail him, yet he claimed his administration functioned more effectively during that period than the current government in Delhi.
The controversy arose after Amit Shah, in a media interview, defended the contentious bill—which proposes the ouster of jailed Ministers, Chief Ministers, and even the Prime Minister if imprisoned for a month on serious charges. Shah specifically cited Kejriwal as an example of a leader who refused to resign despite being incarcerated.
Responding strongly on social media platform X, Kejriwal accused Shah of hypocrisy and questioned why BJP leaders who induct tainted politicians into their party should not face accountability themselves.
Kejriwal’s counter: “Jail government worked better”
Kejriwal asserted that his government, which he claimed to have run from jail for 160 days, delivered more effectively than the current BJP-led administration in Delhi. He pointed to specific areas such as uninterrupted electricity supply, regular water availability, free medicines in hospitals, functioning mohalla clinics, and free diagnostic tests for the public.
“At least during the jail government, there were no power cuts, water was supplied, free medicines were available in hospitals and mohalla clinics, free tests were conducted, Delhi wouldn’t be in such a bad state from one rain, and private schools weren’t allowed to act arbitrarily,” Kejriwal posted.
He further alleged that Delhi’s current governance under BJP has deteriorated sharply, with citizens now recalling the efficiency of his so-called jail government.
The ‘sack bill’ debate intensifies
The proposed Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill 2025 has triggered heated debates in Parliament and outside. It seeks to disqualify and remove elected representatives—whether Ministers, Chief Ministers, or the Prime Minister—if they are jailed for more than 30 days on charges deemed serious. While the BJP argues that the bill is necessary to uphold public trust in governance, the Opposition claims it is a political tool designed to target rivals through false prosecutions.
Kejriwal, who has been one of the most vocal critics of the bill, highlighted the dangers of misuse. “If someone is falsely implicated in a case, sent to jail, and later acquitted, how many years of imprisonment should the minister who falsely implicated him face?” he asked.
He went further to suggest that leaders who induct individuals accused of serious crimes into their parties, dismiss their cases, and elevate them to powerful positions should also be made accountable under such a law. “Should such a person not be required to resign from his position?” he asked, in a direct reference to BJP’s political strategies.
Political war of words escalates
The exchange between Shah and Kejriwal adds to the ongoing confrontation between the ruling BJP and the Opposition, especially the AAP. While Shah used Kejriwal’s incarceration as a case study to push for reforms, Kejriwal turned the attack back on the BJP, accusing it of double standards and selective accountability.
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The AAP leader has consistently maintained that the charges against him were politically motivated, calling them part of a larger conspiracy to weaken Opposition leaders. With the upcoming political calendar crowded with state elections and preparations for the 2026 general elections, the debate around the “sack bill” is expected to remain a flashpoint in Indian politics.
For now, the controversy reflects a larger struggle over the boundaries of accountability in public life—whether laws meant to ensure integrity in governance can themselves become weapons of political vendetta.
