NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Modi government after Parliament passed the VB–G RAM G Bill, accusing it of dismantling the core principles of the 20-year-old MGNREGA and weakening rural workers’ rights.In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Last night, the Modi government demolished twenty years of MGNREGA in one day,” arguing that the new law was not a reform but a rollback. “VB–G RAM G isn’t a ‘revamp’ of MGNREGA. It demolishes the rights-based, demand-driven guarantee and turns it into a rationed scheme which is controlled from Delhi. It is anti-state and anti-village by design,” he said.Rahul said MGNREGA had given rural workers bargaining power, reduced exploitation and distress migration, raised wages, and improved working conditions while building rural infrastructure. “That leverage is precisely what this government wants to break,” he wrote, warning that capping work and creating new denial mechanisms would weaken “the one instrument which the rural poor had”.He pointed to the scheme’s role during the Covid lockdowns, saying it prevented crores from falling into hunger and debt and benefited women the most. “When you ration a jobs programme, it is women, Dalits, Adivasis, landless workers and the poorest OBC communities who get pushed out first,” he said.Gandhi also criticised the passage of the Bill without committee scrutiny, calling it a law that “rewires the rural social contract”. “We will not let this government destroy the rural poor’s last line of defence,” he added, pledging nationwide opposition to the move.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosMidnight Drama Over VB-G RAM G Bill, Opposition Stage Overnight Protest, Sleep Outside ParliamentMuhammad Yunus Calls For Calm And Patience As Hadi Death Sparks Protests Arson And National MourningHadi Death Triggers Overnight Riots In Bangladesh With Arson And Anti-India Fury, Media Targeted’Abrupt Variation In Chenab River Flow’: Pakistan Cries Over Indus Water Treaty Suspension’Asking Since June…’: Priyanka Gandhi, Nitin Gadkari Share ‘Appointment’ Banter In Lok Sabha’Possibilities For Expansion’: Argentinian Envoy On Trade Partnership With IndiaCM Mamata Banerjee Renames West Bengal’s Job Guarantee Scheme ‘Karmashree’ After Mahatma GandhiNitish Kumar’s Hijab Shocker: BJP MP Giriraj Singh Defends Bihar CM’s Act With ‘Go To Hell’ RemarkIndia Flags Pakistan Role In Bangladesh Protests, Backs Awami League Demand For Free & Fair PollsIndia’s Silent Exodus: Over Two Lakh Indian Citizens Quit Passports Yearly Amid Changing Aspirations123PhotostoriesChristmas 2025: DIY Christmas crafts for kidsIs your soul’s journey on Earth coming to an end? 10 signs from the universeSimple ways to prevent gas cylinder leaks and fires: 6 best practices every home should followDo’s and don’ts for each day of the week according to astrologyShah Rukh Khan’s ‘King’, Ranbir Kapoor’s ‘Ramayana’, Alia Bhatt’s ‘Alpha’, Deepika Padukone in Atlee’s film with Allu Arjun: Bollywood A-listers all set to make a splash in 2026How to grow peppers indoors for year-round fresh harvestsBinging on midnight snacks? Late-night eating can damage your digestive system and affect heart and metabolic disease riskYubari King Melon: Japan’s most luxurious fruit costs ₹27,000 a piece; here’s why it’s so expensiveBreaking the link between smoking and lung cancer: Support for prevention and pain reliefKareena Kapoor Khan proves red is the only colour you need this Christmas123Hot Picksvb g ram gICICI Prudential AMCIndia Oman TradeGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays DecemberBank Holidays DecemberTop TrendingTravis Kelce Retirement RumorsAnthony Richardson InjuryJaylen BrownWNBASan Francisco GiantsCam SkatteboPuka NacuaJake PaulSidney CrosbyGisele Bndchen
NEW DELHI: Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Modi government after Parliament passed the VB–G RAM G Bill, accusing it of dismantling the core principles of the 20-year-old MGNREGA and weakening rural workers’ rights.In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Last night, the Modi government demolished twenty years of MGNREGA in one day,” arguing that the new law was not a reform but a rollback. “VB–G RAM G isn’t a ‘revamp’ of MGNREGA. It demolishes the rights-based, demand-driven guarantee and turns it into a rationed scheme which is controlled from Delhi. It is anti-state and anti-village by design,” he said.Rahul said MGNREGA had given rural workers bargaining power, reduced exploitation and distress migration, raised wages, and improved working conditions while building rural infrastructure. “That leverage is precisely what this government wants to break,” he wrote, warning that capping work and creating new denial mechanisms would weaken “the one instrument which the rural poor had”.He pointed to the scheme’s role during the Covid lockdowns, saying it prevented crores from falling into hunger and debt and benefited women the most. “When you ration a jobs programme, it is women, Dalits, Adivasis, landless workers and the poorest OBC communities who get pushed out first,” he said.Gandhi also criticised the passage of the Bill without committee scrutiny, calling it a law that “rewires the rural social contract”. “We will not let this government destroy the rural poor’s last line of defence,” he added, pledging nationwide opposition to the move.
