G Ram G Bill: Ruckus In LS As Priyanka Gandhi Questions 'Obsession' With Name Change, Govt Responds

Last Updated:December 16, 2025, 13:39 IST

The Centre's new Bill to replace rural job guarantee scheme MGNREGA was at the centre of ruckus in Lok Sabha on Tuesday

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during a debate in the Lok Sabha. ( File Image: Sansad TV/PTI)

The Centre’s new Bill to replace rural job guarantee scheme MGNREGA was at the centre of ruckus in Lok Sabha on Tuesday as the Opposition cornered the government for “weakening" the law, prompting a strong response from the Centre.

Leading the opposition charge was Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who termed the new Bill— Viksit Bharat Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025—an attempt to expand the control of the Centre and pass on the financial burden to the states and said no law should be passed based on somebody’s whim, ambition and prejudice.

Criticising the government for its “obsession" with renaming schemes, she said the VB-G RAM G Bill centralises power and undermines the rights previously guaranteed under MGNREGA, which provides legal guarantee of 100 days of wage employment to rural households every year.

Opposing the Bill under Rule 72(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, Gandhi said: “MGNREGA has been successful in providing livelihood to rural India and strengthening the rural economy for 20 years. This is such a revolutionary law that when it was brought, all political parties in Parliament supported it. This provides 100 days of employment in a year to the poorest of the poor in this country."

She added: “I don’t understand this obsession with changing the name. It involves a lot of expenditure. I don’t understand why they are doing it unnecessarily. Secondly, under MGNREGA, a right was provided, the right to 100 days of employment for the poorest of the poor. And this Bill will weaken that right. The way they have added two or three things in this Bill, it seems from the outside that they have increased the number of days. Have you increased the wages?"

Terming the Bill an attempt to “weaken the system", the Congress MP said: “Our basic Constitution rights are being depleted. This is against the basic tenets of Panchayati Raj as well. States are reeling under the pressure of financial burden but this Bill will give more power to the Centre and less responsibility."

News politics G Ram G Bill: Ruckus In LS As Priyanka Gandhi Questions 'Obsession' With Name Change, Govt Responds

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