Congress leader Jay Ram Ramesh accuses BJP of undermining Parliament

Senior Congress leader Jay Ram Ramesh has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of continuously weakening democratic institutions, specifically Parliament, since 2014. The allegations were made following a mock parliament session organized by the opposition to highlight concerns over electoral integrity.

Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging they have mocked parliamentary democracy by passing significant laws without adequate debate and using legislative houses for self-promotion. He specifically cited a December 2023 law that provides legal immunity to the Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners for actions taken during their official duties. Ramesh noted this law was passed while 145 opposition members were suspended from both houses.

The controversy follows the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as Chief Election Commissioner. The opposition INDIA bloc has been demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and has raised concerns regarding voter list reviews and alleged vote theft. The BJP has consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that parliamentary proceedings follow established rules and that the Election Commission operates as an independent body.