Opposition Slams Government Over Move to Replace MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G

December 16, 2025

New Delhi: As soon as the Lok Sabha proceedings resumed on Tuesday, the opposition strongly protested the introduction of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) (VB-G RAM G), 2025.

This proposed bill is being seen as an attempt to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Opposition objects to the renaming of the scheme

Opposition MPs objected to the renaming of this flagship rural employment scheme and demanded that the proposed bill be sent to a parliamentary committee for detailed scrutiny.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan introduced the bill in the House, following which opposition members questioned the justification for removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from this historic welfare scheme, which has been in effect for nearly two decades.

Priyanka Gandhi launches a sharp attack on the government

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra attacked the government on this issue, stating that the new bill could “weaken” the 100-day employment guarantee provided to the poor under MGNREGA.

She also accused the central government of having a “mania” for renaming long-standing schemes.

“MGNREGA was such a revolutionary bill that when it was introduced, all political parties appreciated it. It strengthens the rural economy and provides 100 days of employment on demand,” Priyanka Gandhi said in the House.

Increased financial burden on states: Opposition

Priyanka Gandhi explained that the existing act is demand-driven, where budget allocation increases according to the number of people seeking work.

In contrast, she said that VB-G RAM G provides for a fixed annual allocation and places an additional financial burden on the states, as the central government will bear only 60 percent of the total expenditure.

Against the spirit of the Constitution and Panchayati Raj: Priyanka

“The fundamental principle of our Constitution is that power should be in the hands of every individual, and this principle is also enshrined in the Panchayati Raj system. This bill is against that fundamental spirit. The provisions of this bill, which weaken the legal right to employment, are contrary to the Constitution,” Priyanka Gandhi said. An Emotional Appeal in the Name of Mahatma Gandhi

Amidst loud slogans and repeated disruptions in the House, Priyanka Gandhi made an emotional appeal, defending the legacy associated with the scheme’s name.

She said, “Mahatma Gandhi was not from my family, but he is like family to me, and that is the sentiment of the entire country.”

Demand to Withdraw the Bill

Strongly opposing the bill, Priyanka Gandhi demanded that the government withdraw it and suggested that a revised bill be introduced and sent to a special committee for comprehensive discussion and scrutiny.