Opposition Slams Centre Over Bill to Replace MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G, Calls Removal of Gandhi's Name an 'Insult'

A major political row erupted in Parliament's Winter Session as the Union government introduced a bill to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replace it with the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, abbreviated as VB-G RAM G.

The proposed legislation removes Mahatma Gandhi's name from the flagship rural employment scheme launched by the UPA government in 2005, prompting sharp criticism from the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and other Opposition parties, who accused the BJP-led Centre of insulting the Father of the Nation.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described the controversy as "unfortunate" in a post on X. He emphasised that "Gram Swaraj" (village self-rule) and "Ram Rajya" (ideal kingdom) were complementary ideals in Gandhi's philosophy, not rivals. "Replacing the Mahatma's name in a scheme for the rural poor ignores this profound symbiosis," Tharoor wrote, adding that Gandhi's last words invoking 'Ram' should not be used to create unnecessary divisions.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called the move a "BJP-RSS conspiracy" to dismantle MGNREGA, highlighting the hypocrisy of leaders who pay tributes to Gandhi abroad while erasing his legacy at home. He vowed strong opposition both in Parliament and on the streets.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra questioned the rationale behind dropping Gandhi's name, noting the unnecessary expenditure on updating stationery and paperwork. She criticised the government for wasting parliamentary time on name changes instead of addressing critical issues.

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien labelled the decision an "insult to Gandhiji," linking it to those who historically admired Gandhi's assassin. "We will never allow this to happen," he posted on X.

Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan accused the BJP of longstanding animosity towards Gandhi, urging the government to focus on timely payments and expanding work days under the scheme rather than renaming it.

Earlier reports suggested a potential rename to "Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Yojana," which retained a reference to Gandhi as 'Bapu,' but the final bill eliminates his name entirely.

The new bill proposes several changes, including increasing guaranteed wage employment from 100 to 125 days per rural household, shifting the funding ratio to 60:40 between Centre and most states (90:10 for northeastern and Himalayan states), and emphasising infrastructure creation aligned with the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision. It also introduces centralised planning tools and digital monitoring.

The government maintains that the overhaul modernises the scheme while retaining core benefits, but Opposition parties argue it dilutes the demand-driven, rights-based nature of MGNREGA. The bill is expected to face heated debates in the coming days.

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