‘A tactic to blackmail Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu’: Tejashwi on bill to sack arrested CMs

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Thursday criticised the controversial bill which seeks to remove ministers who are arrested on serious criminal charges.

The bill, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, states that if the prime minister, a Union minister, a chief minister, or a minister of a state or Union Territory is arrested or detained on serious criminal charges for 30 consecutive days, they will be required to resign on the 31st day.

Hitting out at the bill, Yadav said the Narendra Modi government was trying to “blackmail” and “torture” the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Bihar—Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu, respectively—whose support is essential for the ruling alliance to prove majority in Lok Sabha.

"They (Centre) are bringing this for Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu. This bill has only job... to blackmail. If the Enforcement Directorate slapped a PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) case, it’s not easy to get bail. This is their tactic to torture,” Yadav told reporters during the Opposition’s ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’.

The yatra was resumed on Wednesday after a day-long gap, with Yadav informing the public that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be back from Delhi in the afternoon.

Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had flagged off the yatra at Sasaram on Sunday in the presence of leaders like AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad.

"We are grateful to big brother (bade bhai) Rahul Gandhi for having devoted so much of his time for this yatra. He has some pressing engagements relating to vice president's election. He will be joining us in the afternoon,” said Yadav.