AAP joins TMC, SP in boycotting JPC on bills seeking removal of PM, CMs in custody

New Delhi: After Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP on Sunday announced that it will not join the Joint Committee of Parliament examining the Bills seeking removal of top political executives if in custody for 30 days, claiming the purpose of the proposed laws were not to end corruption but to topple Opposition governments.

The announcement was made by AAP Rajya Sabha floor leader Sanjay Singh, who said the three Bills are "unconstitutional" and their purpose is to put opposition leaders in jail, topple the Opposition-led governments and "end democracy in the country".

"We will not join the Joint Committee. The purpose of this Bill is not to end corruption because the BJP loves corruption and the corrupt," Singh said announcing the decision.

Singh said one should not have any misconception that the Bills were about fighting corruption.

"The relationship between corruption and the BJP is like that of Laila and Majnu, Romeo and Juliet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP loves the corrupt. In which party are leaders like Ajit Pawar, Narayan Rane, G Janardhan Reddy, BS Yeddyurappa, Mukul Roy, Himanta Biswas Sarma, Suvendu Adhikari" he said.

Reacting to the AAP decision, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O'Brien said, "it is a valueless committee." On Saturday, Trinamool and SP had announced their decision to not join the JPC.

The issue of joining the Joint Committee has divided the I.N.D.I.A bloc and the decision of Trinamool, SP and AAP may put pressure on other parties, including Congress, which are inclined to join the panel.

At a meeting of I.N.D.I.A bloc last Wednesday, the day Bills were referred to the committee, Trinamool Congress had argued that the entire Opposition should boycott the Joint Committee proceedings.

However, CPI(M) and RSP leaders were of the view that boycotting the JPC was not prudent as they would not have an official platform to record their opposition. A section of leaders were inclined to the idea.

There have been differences within the I.N.D.I.A bloc over participating in the discussion at the "introduction" of the Bill, with Congress and others, barring Trinamool, joining it while protesting. However, the Trinamool was against it and vehemently protested.

Amid vociferous Opposition protest, Home Minister Amit Shah had last Wednesday introduced The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2025 in Lok Sabha seeking the removal of Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and central and state ministers if they are arrested and remain in custody for 30 days in a row on offences that attract a jail term of at least five years. The Bill was later referred to a Joint Committee of Parliament.