Monsoon Session: Opposition tears up bills, throws paper at Amit Shah in Lok Sabha protest

The Monsoon Session of Parliament saw unprecedented disruption on Aug 20 as opposition MPs reacted vehemently to the introduction of three highly contentious bills by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

MPs tore copies of the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, then threw paper bits at the Home Minister while he was speaking in the Lok Sabha. The chaotic scenes prompted Speaker Om Birla to adjourn the House.

The bills under discussion aim to empower the executive to remove a sitting Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or ministers—including those from Union Territories—if detained on serious criminal charges for 30 consecutive days.

This would bypass established constitutional safeguards, stirring fierce resistance. The motion to send these bills to a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) was also tabled amidst the uproar.

Opposition leaders voiced sharp criticisms in the Lok Sabha. Congress MP Manish Tewari called the amendments “squarely destructive of the basic structure of the Constitution,” arguing they “throw all existing safeguards to the winds.”

AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi warned that the bills undermine separation of powers and labeled them a step toward a “police state.”

The disorder extended beyond paper-throwing. Reports show MPs almost came to blows, with members of ruling and opposition parties nearly scuffling in the well of the House.

The heavy sloganeering and protests led to multiple adjournments throughout the day, delaying both debate and legislative business.

These rapid developments highlight the sharp polarization in Parliament over issues of governance, federalism, and democracy.

The government's proposed bills, aimed at promoting integrity, are being fiercely questioned over their potential misuse and constitutional validity.