NEW DELHI: A parliamentary committee scrutinising the bill seeking removal of PM, CMs and ministers arrested on serious charges on Thursday unanimously resolved to ask opposition parties, which have decided not to join the panel in protest against the proposed law, to share their suggestions, sources said.The committee headed by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi held its first meeting and, according to her, all members agreed on the need for “decriminalisation of politics”. She added that the panel would ensure “wide-ranging discussion” with all stakeholders.The constitutional amendment bill proposes that PM, CMs and ministers will cease to hold office if they are in detention for 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges. Opposition parties such as Congress, SP, TMC and DMK have declined to the join the joint parliamentary committee, asserting that the bill can be used to target state govts for political reasons.The committee has decided to reach out to them. It will also be visiting states and speaking to different stakeholders, including leaders of opposition, the sources said. The panel will be speaking to constitutional experts and lawyers’ bodies as well.In the meeting, sources said, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi cited different criminal laws, including BNS Section 187, which allows detention of an accused for 90 days, as well as PMLA to argue against the proposed law.Another JPC, which is scrutising the constitutional amendment bill for simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections met on Thursday, with Law Commission chairperson Dinesh Maheshwari, a former SC judge, endorsing the proposed law. He rejected the contention that it was against the basic structure of the Constitution and federalism. Opposition MPs, including Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, raised questions on its provisions. The commission will be submitting its views on the queries raised by members, sources said. EC, former CJI BR Gavai, opposition MP and noted lawyer Kapil Sibal, economists Gita Gopinath and Sanjeev Sanyal are scheduled to share their views.
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