Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the Centre of misusing funds and weakening rural jobs scheme, alleging a reduction in the government’s funding share from 90% to 60%.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, December 16, 2025 — Chaos erupted in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after the Union government introduced the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, triggering strong protests from Opposition parties during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.
The proposed legislation, popularly referred to as the VB-G RAM G Bill, seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a flagship rural employment programme enacted in 2005. Opposition members objected to both the substance and symbolism of the bill, particularly the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name and changes to the funding structure.
Leading the Opposition’s attack, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the Centre of “misusing funds” and weakening a rights-based welfare programme by reducing the Union government’s financial contribution. According to Opposition claims, the Centre’s share under the proposed scheme would fall from 90% to 60%, placing a greater burden on states.
The Lok Sabha, which convened at 11 am with Question Hour, soon witnessed slogan-shouting and protests by members of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and other Opposition parties. Amid the uproar, the House was adjourned till 2 pm, underscoring the escalating confrontation between the ruling BJP and the Opposition.
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Opposition Raises Objections
Speaking in the House, Priyanka Gandhi criticised what she described as the government’s fixation with renaming welfare schemes.
“I don’t understand this obsession with changing the name. It involves a lot of expenditure. I don’t understand why it is being done unnecessarily,” she said, adding that Mahatma Gandhi was a national icon and not the preserve of any political family.
She also questioned the government’s claim that the bill expanded employment guarantees.
“MGNREGA provided a right — the right to 100 days of employment for the poorest of the poor. This bill weakens that right,” she said, asking whether wages had been increased alongside the proposed extension of employment days.
“Have you increased the wages?” she asked, alleging that cosmetic changes were being used to mask deeper funding cuts.
Opposition parties demanded that the bill either be withdrawn or referred to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for wider consultations. NCP MP Supriya Sule urged the government to send the bill for detailed scrutiny, while Congress MP Shashi Tharoor pointed out that MGNREGA was conceived as a non-partisan programme aimed at guaranteeing livelihood security.
VIDEO | Parliament Winter Session: Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, protest against the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, that seeks to replace the existing rural employment law MGNREGA. The… pic.twitter.com/3pBx1F2Jvm
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 16, 2025
Government’s Defence
Introducing the bill, Union Minister for Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the proposed legislation aimed to modernise rural employment programmes and align them with the government’s long-term vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.”
He asserted that the new framework would guarantee 125 days of wage employment per financial year to rural households willing to undertake unskilled manual labour, compared to the existing 100 days under MGNREGA.
Rejecting the Opposition’s criticism, Chouhan maintained that the Modi government remained committed to Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals.
“The government not only believes in Mahatma Gandhi but also follows his principles,” he said, adding that the Centre had done more for rural development than previous governments.
BJP MPs : Mahatma Gandhi was not from your family
PRIYANKA : I agree but emotionally i am connected to Gandhi Ji and whole nation feels that familiar connection 🔥
PGV is star speaker. Nightmare for BJP 👏
— Amock_ (@Amockx2022) December 16, 2025
Wider Disruptions in Parliament
The VB-G RAM G Bill was among several contentious legislative moves during the day. The government also introduced the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, which seeks to amend key insurance legislations and could pave the way for 100% foreign direct investment in the insurance sector. Opposition parties criticised the move as rushed and lacking adequate debate.
In the Rajya Sabha, former Congress president Sonia Gandhi raised concerns over the conditions of women frontline workers, including ASHA and Anganwadi workers, under the National Rural Livelihood Mission. She called for filling vacancies, timely payment of wages, increased central contribution, and additional appointments in larger villages.
Opposition MPs also objected to the sudden listing of sensitive legislations, including the Atomic Energy Bill, and demanded that major bills — including the VB-G RAM G Bill and the Higher Education Commission Bill — be referred to Standing Committees for “in-depth examination and wider consultations.”
Implications for Rural Employment
MGNREGA has long been regarded as a cornerstone of India’s rural safety net, providing guaranteed wage employment to millions of households during periods of economic distress. While the government has highlighted the proposed increase in guaranteed workdays, critics argue that reduced central funding and structural changes could undermine the scheme’s effectiveness.
As the Winter Session enters its final phase, continued disruptions threaten to delay legislative business. With sharp divisions over welfare reforms and federal funding responsibilities, Tuesday’s developments indicate that confrontation is likely to persist in the days ahead.
