After TMC, now SP has given a shock! Out of JPC on the bill to remove PM-CM, crisis on opposition unity

New Delhi: On Saturday, the opposition parties gave a big shock to the Joint Parliamentary Committee formed on the bills and constitutional amendment that remove Chief Ministers, Ministers and Prime Minister from their posts in case of 30 days of arrest. Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party clearly refused to be a part of this JPC.

TMC’s boycott was already considered certain, but SP’s move has created a stir in the opposition camp. Now pressure is increasing on Congress too in the name of opposition unity. Congress was till now inclined in favor of joining the JPC, but the stand of SP has deepened the doubts within the party.

TMC MP Derek O’Brien outright rejected the JPC, saying, “The Modi coalition is forming a JPC to investigate an unconstitutional bill. This is all a drama and we had to call it a drama. I am happy that we have taken this step.”

The idea of ​​the bill is flawed
SP President Akhilesh Yadav also supported the TMC and said, “The idea of ​​the bill is wrong. The person who introduced this bill (Home Minister Amit Shah) himself has said many times that false cases were filed against him. If anyone can file a fake case against anyone, then what is the meaning of this bill?” Akhilesh further said that this is the reason why SP leaders like Azam Khan, Ramakant Yadav and Irfan Solanki were put in jail.

The SP chief termed the bills as a clash with the federal structure of India. He said, “As happened in UP, the Chief Minister can withdraw the criminal cases registered in their states. The Center will have no control over it because law and order is a state subject. The Center will be able to intervene only in those cases which are registered by central agencies like CBI, ED etc.”

Question on the credibility of JPC
Derek O’Brien questioned the usefulness of JPC and said that earlier it was seen as a strong mechanism to ensure public interest and accountability. He said, “After 2014, the role of JPC has become hollow to a large extent. Governments have started using it for political purposes, the amendments of the opposition are rejected and the debate has become a mere formality.”

Citing examples, he mentioned the JPC formed on the Harshad Mehta scam and Bofors case during the Congress government and even said that a Congress MP was also accused of taking bribe in Bofors.

Opposition parties were already ready to boycott TMC, but the SP’s move has created confusion. Many parties believe that the debates held in parliamentary committees prove important in court hearings and in forming public opinion. But the boycott of SP has weakened the collective voice of the opposition.