MGNREGA to VB–G RAM: Rahul Gandhi slams Modi govt, Says “will not let this govt destroy the rural poor's last line of defence”
Rahul highlighted that MGNREGA is among the most successful poverty alleviation and empowerment programmes in the world.
MGNREGA to VB–G RAM: Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday Morning strongly criticized Prime Minister Modi-led the NDA government for allegedly “demolishing” twenty years of MGNREGA in one day. Rahul affirmed that his party will not let the ruling destroy the “rural poor’s last line of defence.”
Rahul Gandhi, in a post on his X, wrote, “Last night, the Modi government demolished twenty years of MGNREGA in one day.”
Rahul wrote that VB–G RAM G isn’t a “revamp” of MGNREGA. “It demolishes the rights-based, demand-driven guarantee and turns it into a rationed scheme which is controlled from Delhi. It is anti-state and anti-village by design,” the post read.
“MGNREGA gave the rural worker bargaining power. With real options, exploitation and distress migration fell, wages increased, working conditions improved, all while building and reviving rural infrastructure. That leverage is precisely what this government wants to break,” he alleged.
“By capping work and building in more ways to deny it, VB–G RAM G weakens the one instrument which the rural poor had. We saw what MGNREGA meant during COVID. When the economy shut down and livelihoods collapsed, it kept crores from falling into hunger and debt,” the post continued.
Rahul noted that MGNREGA helped women the most. "Year after year, women have contributed more than half the person-days.When you ration a jobs programme, it is women, Dalits, Adivasis, landless workers and the poorest OBC communities who get pushed out first,” he added.
VB-G RAM G Bill was passed in the parliament yesterday. VB-G RAM guarantees 125 days of wage employment every year.
Rahul alleged that the new law was “bulldozed” through Parliament without proper scrutiny.“The opposition's demand to send the bill to a Standing Committee was rejected. A law that rewires the rural social contract, affecting crores of workers, should never be rammed through without serious committee scrutiny, expert consultation, and public hearings,” he added.
Launching attacks against PM Modi, Rahul’s post read, “PM Modi’s targets are clear: weaken labour, weaken the leverage of rural India, especially Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis, centralise power, and then sell slogans as 'reform'.”
Rahul highlighted that MGNREGA is among the most successful poverty alleviation and empowerment programmes in the world.
Rahul affirmed that he and his party will not let “this government (BJP-led NDA)” destroy the rural poor’s last line of defence.
“We will stand with workers, panchayats, and states to defeat this move and build a nationwide front to ensure this law is withdrawn,” the post concluded.
Kharge's take on VB–G RAM G:
Yesterday, the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge called VB–G RAM the “murder of the world's largest employment scheme.”
He highlighted that “During the 2020 COVID-19 crisis, when migrant workers returned to villages on foot, MGNREGA became their LIFELINE.”
Kharge also highlighted that “The MGNREGA law was brought after extensive deliberation and with the consensus of the opposition. This scheme was considered one of the most important legislations after independence. When the Standing Committee examined this law, BJP leader Kalyan Singh was its chairman.”
“You are halting a running scheme without reason. This will prove to be your second demonetization. You will apologize to the people again. You will ask for 50 days,” he added.
The winter session of the parliament 2025 comes to an end
Lok Sabha adjourned sine die today, PTI said, bringing to an end the Winter Session. The session began on December 1 and ran till today with 15 sittings over 19 days. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla says, “The productivity of the House has been 111% this session. All the members have cooperated to allow the House to function.”
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