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The authorities connected Tuesday (December 16, 2025) introduced the c (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, which seeks to regenerate the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), amid Opposition protests. Members marched from the Lok Sabha enclosure to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue connected the Parliament premises, demanding the Bill beryllium sent for further scrutiny.
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Introducing the Bill, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “The (Narendra) Modi authorities has done much for agrarian improvement than erstwhile governments. We not lone judge successful Mahatma Gandhi but besides travel his principles... We volition afloat make the colony and enactment to found a equilibrium betwixt agriculture and labour… This full Bill is successful enactment with Gandhiji’s sentiments and is meant to found Ram Rajya.”
Opposition leaders powerfully objected with the DMK’s T.R. Baalu saying, “The begetter of the federation is being ridiculed.”
Congress person Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called MGNREGA a “revolutionary Act” which was unanimously supported by Parliament. “This Bill (VB-G RAM G) is weakening the employment rights of the poor. It is against the Constitution,” she said, accusing the authorities of dismantling the demand-driven architecture of MGNREGA and replacing it with a pre-decided budget. She besides flagged centralisation of decision-making. “The caller Bill weakens the right-based operation of the MGNREGA,” she said.
Ms. Vadra warned that reducing the Centre’s stock of backing from 90% to 60% would deed State finances already strained by GST compensation delays. Proposing that the Bill beryllium sent to a parliamentary panel, she added, “Mahatma Gandhi was not from my family, but helium was from each household successful the country.”
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, successful a station connected X, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ever opposed Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas and sought to weaken MGNREGA since coming to power. “Modi ji has a heavy hatred for 2 things — the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and the rights of the poor,” helium said, vowing Congress volition reason immoderate specified move.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called the Bill a “retrograde step” and “ill-advised”, criticising the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name. “It strips the Bill of its motivation compass and humanities legitimacy,” helium said. Quoting a 1971 Hindi movie song, helium said, “Dekho o deewano ye kaam na karo, Ram ka naam badnaam na karo (don’t bash this, don’t malign Ram’s name).” Mr. Tharoor argued that shifting liability to States violated fiscal federalism.
The Trinamool Congress’s Saugata Roy demanded the Bill beryllium referred to a prime committee. The RSP’s N.K. Premchandran pointed retired method flaws and said States cannot spend the added fiscal burden.
Congress wide caput K.C. Venugopal dismissed the committedness of 125 days of enactment arsenic “hollow”. Addressing Mr. Chouhan, helium said, “Your sanction volition beryllium remembered arsenic a Minister who removed Mahatma Gandhi’s name.”
Opposition members stormed the Well of the House, holding photographs of Gandhiji. Amid the din, Mr. Chouhan reiterated that the Bill reflects Gandhian ideals and aims to make “Ram Rajya” successful villages. After walking out, Opposition MPs marched to the Mahatma Gandhi statue. Women members raised slogans from the aged Parliament building’s balcony. Left parties had earlier staged protests earlier the sitting began.
The Congress announced nationwide protests connected Wednesday. In a missive to State presidents, Mr. Venugopal called for demonstrations astatine territory headquarters. “The combined onslaught connected Gandhiji’s legacy, workers’ rights and national work exposes a larger BJP-RSS conspiracy to dismantle rights-based payment and regenerate it with foundation controlled from the Centre.” He called it some a “political and motivation struggle”.
