VB-G RAM G BILL INTRODUCED IN LOK SABHA: Opp protests dropping Gandhi’s name; welfare of poor our priority, says Govt

DMK member T R Baalu said, “Mahatma Gandhi once said India lives in villages. He also dreamt that economic freedom should be given to the poorest of the poor. Keeping this in mind, Dr Manmohan Singh (then PM), during UPA period, brought MGNREGA… Because it is in Mahatma Gandhiji’s name, this government, because of its hatred, is going to bring a new Bill… the Father of the Nation is being ridiculed by this government.”

Congress member Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said MGNREGA has been able to provide employment to rural India and boost rural economy. The MPs, including Priyanka of Congress, strongly objected to the “removal” of Mahatma Gandhi’s name. The Bill weakens the legal right of employment provided under MGNREGA, said the Congress Wayanad MP. “It is against the Constitution,” she said.

She pointed out that unlike the MGNREG Act, under which Centre provides 90% of the funds, it will be reduced to 60% now. “This will hit the finances of the state governments, especially those waiting for GST compensation,” she said.

“Under this Bill, the Centre’s control over the scheme will increase, but its responsibility will come down,” she said, and demanded the Bill be withdrawn, a fresh one be brought and sent to a parliamentary panel. NCP (SP) member Supriya Sule also demanded the Bill be sent to the Standing Committee. TMC MP Saugata Roy said, “I oppose the idea of replacing the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi’s name with G RAM G. (Lord) Ram ji is respect­ed by the people but for me Mahatma Gandhi is much more relevant.”

Taking a dig at government, Congress member Shashi Tharoor recalled the 1971 hit Bollywood song “Dekho o deewano (tum) ye kaam na karo, Ram ka naam badnam na karo”.

The Bill, he said, is not mer­ely an administrative tweak but an “assault” on the “very spirit and philosophical” foundation of this crucial programme. “To remove the name of Mahatma Gandhi is to strip the Bill of its moral compass and historical legitimacy,” Tharoor said.

He said the proposal to impose 40% of the financial burd­en directly on state governments will lead to delays in wage payments, a reduction in the number of workdays and ultimately, the destruction of the scheme itself. This is a clear violation of fiscal federalism, he said.

Congress’s K C Venugopal termed the Bill an attack on the Constitution. “Chouhan ji, your name will be remembered as the minister who removed the Father of the Nation’s name.”

Responding to Opposition criticism, Chouhan said the government has made a provision of 125 days of guaranteed employment compared to 100 under MGNREGS. He said that the aim of the proposed scheme is to ensure an all-round development of villages, which was a resolve of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay.

Citing the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, Union Minister said, “Later, the Congress itself changed the name of the Jawahar Rozgar Yojana. Did that constitute an insult to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.”

Chouhan said often there is an unequal distribution of budget for welfare of the poor, and many panchayats lag in development. Therefore, a provision is made to grade panchayats and provide more work to underdeveloped and less developed panchayats, he said.

Chouhan said, “Mahatma Gandhi resides in our hearts, and it was the resolve of Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya that the welfare of those who are the most backward and at the bottom of the social ladder should be prioritised. We follow the principles of Mahatma Gandhi, and based on his ideas and the ideas of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, this government, under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, is running several welfare schemes for the poor.”

“Mahatma Gandhi himself spoke about establishing Ram Rajya; his last words were ‘Hey Ram’. We respect Bapu fully, and establishing Ram Rajya means not physical, divine, or material suffering or rule,” he said.

When he was speaking, Opposition members also came to the Well of the House, holding up photographs of Gandhi.