'If jailed clerk can be suspended, why not PM': Modi defends jailed ministers bill in Bihar rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday addressed a rally in Gayaji, Bihar, where he defended the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025. The bill, introduced in Parliament earlier this week, allows the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, or ministers who remain in custody for 30 consecutive days on charges related to corruption or serious offences. Modi said that if a government employee is suspended after spending 50 hours in jail, a similar provision should apply to those in higher offices.

Union home minister Amit Shah introduced the amendment bill in the Lok Sabha along with two others — the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Opposition has objected, saying the bills allow action based on allegations without requiring proven guilt. The introduction of the bills witnessed uproar in Parliament, after which they were referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.

During his visit, the Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of projects worth about ₹13,000 crore in Bihar. A major highlight was the inauguration of the Aunta-Simaria six-lane bridge across the Ganga, built at a cost of ₹1,870 crore. The 8.15 km-long bridge will reduce travel distances for heavy vehicles by over 100 km, improving connectivity between North and South Bihar. Modi also inaugurated the four-lane Bakhtiyarpur–Mokama section of NH-31 and other rural road projects aimed at enhancing connectivity.

In the energy sector, Modi inaugurated the 660 MW Buxar Thermal Power Plant, constructed at a cost of ₹6,880 crore. The project is expected to add significant power generation capacity and improve energy supply in the region. On the health front, he inaugurated the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Muzaffarpur, which will provide advanced cancer treatment facilities including OPD, ICU, and operation theatres. Under Namami Gange, the Prime Minister inaugurated the ₹520 crore sewerage treatment plant and network at Munger.

Boosting transport and tourism, Modi flagged off the Amrit Bharat Express between Gaya and Delhi, which will offer modern passenger facilities, and the Buddhist Circuit Train connecting Vaishali and Koderma to promote travel across Buddhist heritage sites. He also laid the foundation stone for urban infrastructure projects worth ₹1,260 crore under AMRUT 2.0 in Aurangabad, Bodhgaya, Jehanabad, and Lakhisarai. Later in the day, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Kolkata to inaugurate multiple metro routes and lay the foundation for the six-lane Kona Expressway, a ₹1,200 crore elevated corridor to improve connectivity with industrial and port hubs.