Mamata Banerjee slams Centre over constitutional amendment bill, calls it ‘death knell for democracy’

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today launched a blistering attack on the BJP government at the Centre, hours before Union Home Minister Amit Shah was scheduled to table the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha.
Banerjee accused the Centre of undermining democracy, attempting to topple elected state governments, and striking at the very foundations of the Constitution.
In a post on X, the Trinamool Congress supremo condemned the proposed Bill as “a step to end the democratic era of India forever.”
She called it “a death knell for democracy and federalism” and described it as “nothing short of a Hitlerian assault on the very soul of Indian democracy.”
“I condemn the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, proposed to be tabled, by the Government of India today. I condemn it as a step towards something that is more than a super- Emergency, a step to end the democratic era of India forever.
“This draconian step comes as a death knell for democracy and federalism in India,” she wrote.
The Bill that is likely to be tabled today states that if the Prime Minister, a Chief Minister, or any other minister is arrested or detained on serious criminal charges and remains in custody for 30 consecutive days, they must step down from their post.
The 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill also proposes that ministers who are removed under this provision may regain their position after being released.
The chief minister alleged that the legislation seeks to strip the judiciary of its constitutional role and hand sweeping powers to “partisan and unelected authorities” like the Enforcement Directorate and CBI, enabling them to interfere in the functioning of state governments.
“The Bill mutilates democracy by weakening judicial scrutiny, dismantling constitutional safeguards and trampling on people’s rights,” Banerjee said.
She further warned that the amendment was aimed at consolidating “one man–one party–one government,” accusing the Centre of empowering the Prime Minister and the union home minister “in a sinister manner at the expense of the basic principles of our Constitution.”
“This is not reform. This is regression,” Banerjee said, adding that weakening the courts would amount to weakening the people.
“To deny them the right to seek justice is to deny them democracy itself. If allowed to pass, this Bill will be a death warrant for constitutional governance in India,” she cautioned.
Calling for nationwide resistance, the TMC chief said: “Our Constitution is not the property of those in temporary seats of power. It belongs to the people of India. The Bill must be resisted at any cost! Democracy must be saved at this moment!”
The Centre, however, has maintained that the amendment is intended to strengthen governance and accountability. The Bill is expected to trigger a heated debate when it is tabled in Parliament. UNI XC SQ