The Congress party is likely to boycott the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) examining three controversial bills that seek to remove senior government functionaries arrested for 30 consecutive days on serious charges. Party sources confirmed on Monday that Congress will formally inform Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of their decision soon.
At least three other opposition parties—the Trinamool Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Aam Aadmi Party—have already announced their refusal to participate in the JPC. The Samajwadi Party has also indicated support for a united opposition boycott. Although a few parties have yet to declare their position, none have expressed a willingness to join the committee.
Earlier this month, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stated that he had not received any official communication regarding the boycott from the opposition parties. “On the issue of JPC, no political party has communicated to me in writing on this subject,” Birla told reporters.
The background of the legislation dates back to the last day of the Monsoon Session when Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three significant bills in the Lok Sabha:
- The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill
- The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill
- The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill
The proposed bills authorise the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and other ministers if they face arrest for 30 consecutive days on serious charges. This legislation has sparked intense opposition protests from various parties, which label it unconstitutional and politically motivated to specifically target opposition leaders across different states.
The Lok Sabha has referred these bills for scrutiny by a JPC, which will consist of 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha. However, as of now, the committee has not been formally constituted.
