Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, has voiced strong opposition to the 130th Amendment Bill presented in Parliament, condemning it as an assault on India’s democratic principles. Banerjee expressed her disapproval on X, stating that the bill weakens the justice system, potentially establishing a ‘one man-one party, one government’ structure. She portrayed the bill as a move exceeding the severity of a super-Emergency, threatening the permanent end of India’s democratic era. Banerjee characterized the bill as a draconian measure and a death blow to democracy and federalism within India.
Banerjee also said that the bill aims to curtail the voting rights of Indian citizens, using the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) as a pretext. She emphasized that the bill intends to abolish the judiciary’s independence, marking an ‘unprecedented’ move that undermines the spirit of Indian democracy. Banerjee also pointed out that the bill seeks to deprive the judiciary of its constitutional role and its authority to adjudicate matters related to justice and federal balance. She warned that giving such powers to partisan entities will lead to a distortion of democracy. She stressed that the bill represents a regression and not a reform, leading to a system where laws are not in the hands of independent courts but are controlled by vested interests. This is a frightening effort to establish a regime where judicial review is suppressed, constitutional protections are dismantled, and people’s rights are violated, reminiscent of the oppressive mentality of the 20th century.
Banerjee asserted that weakening the courts means weakening the public, denying them justice and democracy. She maintained that the bill attacks the core principles of the Constitution, including federalism, separation of powers, and judicial review, which even Parliament cannot overturn. If passed, this bill would be a death sentence for constitutional rule in India. Banerjee warned that the bill’s purpose is to solidify a one man-one party-one government system. The bill interferes with the mandate of the government and gives unelected authorities (ED, CBI – which the Supreme Court has called ‘caged parrots’) extensive powers to interfere in the functioning of elected state governments. She urged resistance to the bill at all costs, emphasizing the necessity of safeguarding democracy, as the public will not tolerate the removal of their courts, rights, and democratic processes.