On Tuesday, the Lok Sabha leader of the Congress known as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launched a vigorous attack on the Lok Sabha over the proposed bill to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by the Centre. She accused the Narendra Modi government of trying to water down one of the most significant welfare laws and said that the new legislation would erode the employment rights of rural workers and livelihoods throughout the entire nation.
The demonstration followed the request by the Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to the Speaker to allow the introduction of Viksit Bharat Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 otherwise known as the VB G Ram G Bill. The suggested legislation is expected to replace MGNREGA that is in operation since 2005 and offers a legal right of 100 days of wage employment to rural families.
Officially protesting in the House, Priyanka Gandhi referred to rules of parliament and emphasized that MGNREGA had been instrumental in empowering the rural economy and giving livelihoods to crores of people in the last 20 years. She remembered that at the time of the launching of the Act by the UPA run Congress, it had the backing of both ends of the political divide.
Claiming that the bill needs not be hastened in Parliament, Priyanka insisted that the bill be sent to a Standing Committee to be examined in detail. She explained that a law should not be enacted due to the obsession or prejudice of any individual and that there should be greater consultation and discussion before any significant alteration is enabled to such a vital welfare policy.
In an interview to reporters outside Parliament earlier in the day, the Wayanad MP alleged that the government was attempting to undermine the essence of the MGNREGA which is the 100 days of assured employment. She raised the question concerning the rationality of renaming and restructuring schemes, noting that the very process has a high cost of public spending.
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