Thursday, August 21, 2025 | Vol. 68 No. 274 | 31 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation NATION India successfully test-fires ‘Agni 5’ ballistic missile with 5,000 km range GAMES Shreyas Iyer has probably missed out on Asia Cup spot owing to team strategy Cinema I was suffering from alopecia, says Zareen Khan Edit EC needs to be seen impartial and credible to the people ‘DRACONIAN’ | Move to sack PM, CMs, ministers facing serious charges to target governments, says oppn, throws copies of legislations at Shah; bills sent to JPC 3 KEY BILLS FUEL Tharoor sings HOUSE FURORE a different tune Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar FPJ News Service NEW DELHI NEW DELHI Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday introduced three contentious bills in the Lok Sabha, including the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, which proposes the automatic removal of elected officials — the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers and Union Ministers — if they are arrested and detained for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges. The Opposition erupted in protest, charging that the government was weaponising law to destabilise elected governments. Earlier, pandemonium broke out when Opposition Shashi Tharoor again differed from the party line over a bill proposing the forcible removal of senior government members facing criminal charges. While the bill has been heavily criticised by the opposition, with Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra calling it a "draconian" bill, Tharoor on Wednesday took a different tack. "On the face of it, it seems reasonable that anyone who does anything wrong should be liable to punishment and should not be holding a high constitutional office or a political office. I think that makes sense," he said. "If you are in jail for 30 days MPs tore up copies of the Bill and hurled them at Shah as he read out its provisions. The Bill, along with the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee fol- lowing a voice vote. The Constitution Amendment Bill seeks to amend Articles 75, 164 and 239AA for removal of ministers in custody for offences carrying punishment of five years or more. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | city, nation then can you continue as a minister? This is common sense. I don't see anything wrong in this. But if there is anything else behind it, then will have to read it first," he said. Tharoor-Congress ties have been uncertain since 2021, when he joined a group of 'dissenters', and questioned the Gandhis' leadership. The ties have taken a sharp downturn recently over the Operation Sindoor launched in response to Pahalgam terror attack. Venugopal fires 2010 arrest salvo, Shah shoots back FPJ News Service NEW DELHI A fiery clash erupted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress MP K.C. Venugopal during the introduction of three contentious bills. The political temperature reached boiling point when KC Venugopal launched a direct personal attack on Shah, referencing the Home Minister's own legal troubles from over a decade ago. "When Amit Shah was the Home Minister of Gujarat, he was arrested. Did he uphold morality at that time?" Venugopal asked triggering an uproar among parliamentarians. A visibly incensed Amit Shah didn't hesitate to fire back, his response echoing through the packed House. "Despite being framed in a fake case, I had resigned and didn't hold a single Constitutional post before acquittal. You'll teach me morality?" Shah hit back, his words drawing thunderous reactions from NDA leaders who rallied behind their colleague. Shah's reference was to his 2010 arrest in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case during his tenure as Gujarat's Home Minister. Following his arrest by the CBI, Shah immediately resigned from his position and spent three months in jail before being granted bail. His legal vindication came in 2014 when a special CBI court acquitted him of all charges, citing insufficient evidence. 4Contd on | nation INSIDE THE 2ND FRONT PAGE RUSSIAN BALM FOR INDIA OVER TARIFFS: Accusing the US of “weaponising the economy”, Russia said Indian exports could find a place in its markets if they were hit by the US tariffs and said a 5% swing in oil import prices is possible, subject to negotiations. 1,183 MAHA GOVT STAFFERS IN LADKI BAHIN SCAM: The Maharashtra government has initiated action against 1,183 of its officials and employees who allegedly availed of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana through fraudulent means. ASSAULT ON DELHI CM AT PUBLIC HEARING: During her weekly Jan Sunvai meeting, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta was physically assaulted by a man from Rajkot who was apparently disturbed over the recent SC order on rounding up stray dogs in Delhi-NCR. CENTRE WANTS GST ON HEALTH COVER TO GO Agencies NEW DELHI The Centre has proposed exempting life and health insurance policies for individuals from GST, Bihar deputy Chief Minister and convenor of Group of Ministers (GoM) on insurance, Samrat Choudhary, said on Wednesday. Currently, health and life insurance premium attracts 18% GST. During the meeting of the 13-member state GoM, almost all the states were in favour of the proposal, but they asked the GST Council to device a mechanism by which the rate cut benefits are passed on to the customer, said Telangana deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. "We made it clear that the GST reduction benefit should go to policyholders and not companies, some mechanism has to be developed. States wanted it (tax rate) to be brought down or exempted. At the same time, many states told the (GoM) meeting that some mechanism must be developed so that rate cut benefit reaches the people. The GST Council will decide a mechanism," Vikramarka said. The panel includes ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Megha- Reforms push ■ Currently, health and life insurance premium attracts 18% GST. ■ States say GST Council must ensure rate cut benefits are passed on to customers. laya, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. It was mandated to submit report to the GST Council by October end. About Rs 9,700 crore annual revenue loss is estimated on account of GST exemption to individual insurance policies, he said. The GoM will submit its report to the GST Council. It will include views and concerns expressed by some state finance ministers, Choudhary said. "The Centre's proposal is clear that individual insurance policies should be exempt from GST. This has been discussed and the GoM report will be presented to the Council," Choudhary said. 4Contd on | nation Exclusively Marketed By INTERNATIONAL REALTY A Sprawling Villa in Lonavala, Maharashtra Scan to enquire For Sale To schedule a viewing, contact: Simone Jaggi | +91 9289089084 simone.jaggi@sothebysrealty.in 26,100 Sales Associates | 1,100 Offices | 84 Countries & Territories India Sotheby's International Realty is tradename of Realpro Realty Solutions Pvt. Ltd. | No representations and warranties are made with respect to the completeness or accuracy of information concerning the property's size, amenities, facilities etc., which are published herein in good faith. The offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes, including price, or withdrawal without notice. You are requested to get in touch with one of our agents by following the link on the QR code. 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