3 months ago
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A solution tabled by the Karnataka authorities successful the Legislative Assembly, opposing the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, and replacing it with the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, was passed connected Wednesday, adjacent arsenic the BJP and the JD(S) members staged a walkout.
The solution volition beryllium sent to the President and the Government of India, sources said. The legislature league was past adjourned sine die.
BJP protests
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tabled the solution connected Tuesday, with 2 days dedicated for its debate. However, the BJP and the JD(S) members launched an overnight dharna demanding the resignation of the Excise Minister implicit corruption allegations connected Tuesday and continued it during the legislature league connected Wednesday.
Amid non-stop sloganeering, the Speaker allowed a statement connected the resolution. Before it was enactment to vote, Leader of Opposition R. Ashok opposed the solution and the Opposition members staged a walkout.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that contempt having ample opportunities to sermon the VB-G RAM G Act, 2025, and support it, the Opposition had failed to bash so, adjacent arsenic the Chief Minister sought a ballot connected the resolution. It was passed with a dependable vote.
‘Economic terrorism’
Earlier successful the day, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Priyank Kharge responded to the statement and argued that the caller instrumentality was “anti-federal” for expanding the expenditure of the State governments without consultation, which helium termed “economic terrorism”. He pointed retired that adjacent NDA allies similar Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had expressed interest implicit expanding the State’s stock from 10% to 40%.
Responding to claims that nether the caller law, occupation seekers volition get enactment for 125 days a year, alternatively of 100, helium said the Budget allocation for the strategy was not successful tune to the claim. “To springiness 125 days of enactment to each those registered astatine a minimum wage of ₹375, we request ₹3.83 lakh crore, of which 60% was ₹2.3 lakh crore. But the Union Budget had lone earmarked ₹95,000 crore this year.”
Mr. Kharge termed the caller instrumentality “anti-constitutional”, arsenic it centralises enactment successful usurpation of the 73rd amendment to the Constitution. He said the Central authorities deciding what works volition beryllium taken up astatine the gram panchayat level was impractical. He besides said the caller strategy moves distant from demand-based allocation of enactment to bringing it “within an economical framework”. It allows for contractors to participate the strategy and pushes employment seekers to enactment nether them, which was not the lawsuit earlier, helium said.
Yatnal successful defence
It was elder subordinate Basanagouda R. Patil Yatnal, suspended from the BJP, who defended the VB-G Ram G Act, 2025, successful the House connected Wednesday. He said NREGS was not removed arsenic claimed by the Congress, but was lone reformed to plug respective loopholes, including corruption and non availability of labourers during harvest season. He demanded that the Union authorities summation its stock to 75%, from the existent 60% nether the caller law. Senior Congress subordinate B.R. Patil said portion determination was ever scope for betterment and betterment successful the scheme, repealing NREGS amounted to “cutting the chemoreceptor to dainty a cold.”
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok, speaking to reporters outside, said that the Congress authorities was hesitating to supply its 40% stock owing to a deficiency of funds. He claimed that extended discussions were held with each State governments and the Congress which did not reason it past was doing truthful present for governmental reasons.
“To curb excessive corruption, the Union authorities has adopted modern technologies. Irregularities tin beryllium prevented done GPS and Artificial Intelligence. Biometric attendance has been made mandatory, making it easier to observe absentees. Opportunities person been provided to clasp meetings successful Gram Panchayats each week to sermon works, allowing due recognition of indispensable and unnecessary works,” helium said.
