Punjab government has taken a big decision against changes in MNREGA. The proposal has been passed unanimously in the assembly. During this period, two BJP MLAs were not present in the House.

During the debate on the motion against changes in MNREGA in the Punjab Assembly, when Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was speaking, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira repeatedly interrupted, after which the Speaker of the Assembly asked him to oust him. Then the marshals dragged Khaira out of the House.

Punjab government is misleading the workers- BJP

Meanwhile, BJP’s Punjab unit working president Ashwani Sharma on Monday accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of ‘misusing’ the government machinery to oppose the Centre’s proposed Bharat-Ji Ram Ji law.

Ashwani Sharma alleged that the Punjab government is misleading Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA) workers and showing ‘false opposition’ to the new law by getting them to sign protest letters through village level officials. He claimed that workers are being misled into signing such forms.

Sharma said the Vikas Bharat-Guarantee Employment Livelihood Mission (Rural) Act (VB-G Ram Ji) provides 125 days of employment to rural workers instead of 100 days and also ensures unemployment allowance if they do not get work on time.

Why is the government opposing the law – BJP

He raised the question why the state government is opposing the law that benefits workers. The BJP leader alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party led government has failed to provide even 100 days of work to MNREGA workers in the last three years and has not even given unemployment allowance during this period.

He alleged that mandatory social audits were not being conducted under the scheme to hide corruption. According to him, social audits were not conducted in 6,095 gram panchayats in 2024-25 and 7,389 panchayats in 2025-26.

Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Saturday (December 27, 2025) targeted Congress regarding MNREGA. He said that the noise of Congress is only political. Congress had neither intentions nor policies. He said that this is the same Congress, which added the name of Mahatma Gandhi for electoral gains. This is the same Congress, which reduced the budget of MNREGA from time to time. This is the same Congress which froze wages. Today Congressmen are shedding crocodile tears.

The Union Minister shared a post on social media platform X. Shivraj said that today when through technology, transparency and timely payment it is being ensured that the money reaches the accounts of the hardworking people, then Congress sees it as an attack. In this plan it has been decided that decisions will no longer be taken from Delhi but from the village. Gram Panchayats will sit and make their own plans.

Number of days of employment increased from 100 to 125: Shivraj

He said, ‘In this scheme, employment has not been reduced but has been further strengthened. The number of employment days has been increased from 100 days to 125 days. There is a provision for unemployment allowance if work is not received within the stipulated time and if there is a delay in wage payment, there is a provision for additional compensation on delayed payment. It is clear that employment security is not decreasing, but is increasing.

He further said, ‘The rights of Gram Sabha and Panchayat are not weakening, but are becoming stronger. The Gram Sabha will decide the identification and priority of the works. Responsibility for implementation, monitoring and quality is ensured at the local level. Besides, provision for public review of expenditure and payments has been made by making social audit mandatory. Special emphasis has been laid on active participation of women, self-help groups and community.

The noise of Congress is only political. Congress had neither intentions nor policies. This is the same Congress which added the name of Mahatma Gandhi for electoral benefit. This is the same Congress, which reduced the budget of MNREGA from time to time. This is the same Congress which froze wages. Today Congress shed crocodile tears…

— Shivraj Singh Chouhan (@ChouhanShivraj) December 27, 2025

Workers’ rights are not like any dole: Shivraj Chauhan

The Union Minister said, ‘Every Panchayat is not the same. Arrangements have also been made to provide more funds, more assistance and more opportunities to the panchayats which are most backward, where there is still a dire need of employment and lack of basic infrastructure. In this scheme, the rights of workers have been ensured not as a dole, but as a respectable security.

He said, ‘It is based on timely work, respectable wages and safe working conditions in one’s own village. Special focus has been given to sustainable income growth through transparent and timely payments, creation of assets and livelihood related activities. Here rights are not being given on mercy, but with guarantee and respect.

VB-Ji Ram Ji is the future of rural India: Union Minister

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, ‘VB-ji Ram ji is the future of rural India. Its goal is empowered villages and respected labourers. Our resolution is village swaraj and self-reliance, our vision is village-based development. Our aim is respect for labour. Our aim is public participation and social accountability.

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Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting was organized in Delhi. Many senior leaders including Congress Parliamentary Party chief Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary KC Venugopal, Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor, Jairam Ramesh, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu participated in it.

In the meeting, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi alleged that the decision to abolish the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) was taken directly by the Prime Minister’s Office. While doing this, Cabinet and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan was not consulted.

Rahul Gandhi said after the CWC meeting, ‘MNREGA was not just a scheme, but it was a rights-based concept. Scrapping the plan is an attack on this concept. Leader of opposition called this decision as disastrous as demonetisation.

Decision taken from PMO: Rahul Gandhi

He alleged that the government’s move is an attack on the federal structure of the country and centralization of power and financial system. This decision has been taken without asking Minister Shivraj and the cabinet. This decision was taken directly by the Prime Minister’s Office. ‘One man show’ going on. Modi does whatever he wants.

What did National President Mallikarjun Kharge say?

Kharge said, ‘MNREGA has changed the face of rural India. This became the world’s largest rural employment program. This stopped the migration. The villages got freedom from famine, hunger and exploitation. This scheme assured Dalits, tribals, women and landless laborers that the government stands with them in the fight against poverty.

He said, ‘We stood firm for the rights of the farmers and in November 2021, the Prime Minister had to withdraw the agricultural laws while apologizing to the farmers. Rahul ji had predicted the return of these black laws long ago. Recently he has also predicted that Modi government will have to reinstate MNREGA. He said, ‘It is our collective responsibility to make a concrete plan on MNREGA and create a nationwide, mass movement. We will win this battle. In this difficult situation, weak people across the country are looking towards Congress.

During the winter session of Parliament, a political controversy has started in the Lok Sabha over the government’s bill changing the name of MNREGA to Ji Ram Ji. Meanwhile, Congress MP and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi has made a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding this bill. He said that PM Modi has a strong hatred for the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and the rights of poor people.

Rahul Gandhi targeted PM Modi

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has targeted PM Modi by sharing a post on social media platform X on Tuesday (December 16, 2025). He said in his post, ‘Modi ji has strong hatred for two things – the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and the rights of the poor. MNREGA is a living embodiment of Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of village-swaraj, it is the support of the lives of crores of villagers, which also proved to be their economic security blanket during the Covid period. But Prime Minister Modi has always been irritated by this scheme and has been trying to weaken it for the last 10 years. Today he is bent upon erasing all traces of MNREGA.

Modi ji definitely hates two things – the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and the rights of the poor.

MNREGA is a living embodiment of Mahatma Gandhi’s dream of Gram Swaraj – supporting the lives of crores of villagers, which also proved to be their economic security blanket during the Covid period.

But, Prime Minister Modi…

—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 16, 2025

He said, ‘The foundation of MNREGA was based on three basic ideas-

• Right to employment – ​​Whoever asks for work will get it.
• Freedom for the village to decide its own progress.
• The central government will bear the entire cost of labor and 75% of the cost of goods.

Now Prime Minister Modi wants to change this MNREGA and concentrate all the power in his hands only.

• The center will decide the budget, schemes and rules.
• States will be forced to bear 40% of the expenditure.
• As soon as the budget ends or during the harvest season, no one will get work for two months.

The new bill is an insult to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi – Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi said, ‘This new bill is an insult to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, the Modi government has already ruined the future of India’s youth through massive unemployment and now this bill is also a means of destroying the secure livelihood of the rural poor. We will oppose this anti-people bill from the streets of the village to the Parliament.

Also read: As soon as the Ji Ram Ji Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha, the opposition created a ruckus, Priyanka said – ‘The craze of changing the name…’

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor was seen with the Congress line after a long time. Tharoor openly presented his stand on behalf of the government in the House against the bill changing the name of MNREGA. Discussion is going on in the Lok Sabha regarding the Vikas Bharat Ji Ram Ji Bill in place of MNREGA. Speaking in the House, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor gave advice to the government and said that Ram’s name should not be defamed.

The government on Tuesday introduced the ‘Developed India-Ji Ram Ji Bill, 2025’ in the Lok Sabha amid opposition opposition, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).

I would like to oppose the introduction of the proposed bill, the VB–G RAM G Bill, which represents a deeply regrettable and retrograde step for our nation and for our nation’s commitment to the welfare of its most vulnerable citizens.

My first objection, as with others, is the… pic.twitter.com/oUKoGulN4L

— Congress (@INCIndia) December 16, 2025

Shashi Tharoor lashed out openly in the House

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday opposed the introduction of the developed Bharat-Ji Ram Ji Bill 2025 in the Lok Sabha. Referring to a song from Dev Anand’s famous film ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’, he took a dig at the ruling party, ‘Look O crazy people, don’t do this work, don’t defame Ram’s name.’

‘Mahatma Gandhi’s Ram Rajya was not a political project’

Tharoor said, ‘Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Ram Rajya was never a purely political project. It was a socio-economic blueprint based on strengthening villages. His unwavering belief in Gram Swaraj was a key part of that vision.

Shashi Tharoor claimed that by naming the Father of the Nation in the original Act, the deep connection was acknowledged that true employment guarantee and progress should come from the grassroots level only, which reflected his principle of putting the last man first. He alleged that removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the bill amounts to snatching away its moral basis and historical validity.

Tharoor’s sarcasm, ‘Look crazy people, don’t do this thing…’
Taking a dig at the ruling party, Tharoor said this line from a song from the film ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’, ‘Look O crazy people, don’t do this work, don’t defame Ram’s name.’

As soon as a new bill related to MNREGA scheme was introduced in the Lok Sabha, political turmoil has started. The Central Government has proposed to change the name of this scheme to VB-Ji Ram Ji, against which the opposition has lodged a strong protest. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has launched a scathing attack on the government, terming this bill as against the spirit of the Constitution.

Priyanka Gandhi said in Parliament that the government is showing more interest in changing the names of schemes, but their funding at the ground level is continuously being reduced. He raised the question that when money is spent on new boards, documents and publicity every time the name is changed, then why is there silence on increasing the wages of workers. He also said that the bill talks about increasing the working days from 100 to 125, but there is no mention of increasing the daily wage.

Why did Priyanka Gandhi give an emotional reaction?

Priyanka Gandhi gave an emotional reaction to the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name. He said that even though Mahatma Gandhi may not have been a member of his family, he was like family to the entire country. It is not right to make changes in such a big plan based on the thoughts or preferences of one person. Priyanka demanded that there should be a comprehensive discussion on this bill first and it should be sent to the Standing Committee, so that suggestions from all parties could be incorporated.

Trinamool Congress expressed objection

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy also raised objection on this issue. He said that Lord Ram is revered by all, but in today’s times, Mahatma Gandhi’s thinking and his legacy are more relevant. He also warned that under the new provisions, a large part of the scheme’s funding has been shifted to the states, which will put additional economic pressure on them.

Congress General Secretary criticized

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal also criticized the decision, saying that Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be remembered as the leader who removed Mahatma Gandhi’s name from a national scheme. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav also called it an insult to Bapu. This bill has been introduced in the Lok Sabha by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan and currently the debate on it is going on. The opposition says that unless the basic objective of the scheme, the interests of the workers and the role of the states are openly discussed, such a change cannot be accepted.

Also read: After meeting King Abdullah, PM Modi said – ‘India is the third largest partner of Jordan, take advantage…’

The first reaction of Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor has come to light on changing the name of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MNREGA). He has called this controversy unfortunate. Tharoor said that the controversy over changing the name of MNREGA in the government’s proposed new G-RAM-G bill is unfortunate. The government’s proposed new concept of Gram Swaraj and the ideal of Ram Rajya were never opposed to each other.

He said that they were the two pillars of Gandhiji’s thinking. Removing the Mahatma’s name from a scheme for the rural poor ignores this deep connection. His last breath was a proof of his faith in ‘Ram’.

The controversy over renaming MGNREGA in the Govt’s proposed new G-RAM-G Bill is unfortunate. The concept of Gram Swaraj and the ideal of Ram Rajya were never competing forces; they were the twin pillars of Gandhiji’s consciousness. Replacing the Mahatma’s name in a scheme for…

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 15, 2025

Shashi Tharoor further said that we should not insult Gandhiji’s legacy by creating partition in a place where there was no partition.

Government will bring new law after abolishing MNREGA

The central government has decided to abolish MNREGA. Now there are preparations to bring a new law. It has been listed for discussion in the winter session. It has been named Vikas Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) (VB-G RAM G) Bill 2025.

In this new bill, it has been said by the government that its objective is to prepare a framework for rural development under the national vision of Developed India 2047. The number of working days will be increased from 100 to 125.

Earlier on Friday i.e. 12th December, there was news that the government has changed the name of MNREGA to Pujya Bapu Rural Employment Scheme. But the government notification had not come then.

Priyanka Gandhi also expressed surprise at the name change

Amid preparations to make a new law in place of MNREGA, Priyanka Gandhi on Monday asked why Mahatma Gandhi’s name is being removed from this scheme. Regarding the deadlock in Parliament, he also claimed that it seems that the government itself does not want to run the House.