In a notable development in the ongoing winter session of Parliament, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has voiced his strong opposition to the proposed replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission, also known as G Ram G. Tharoor's stance underscores a growing conflict between the ruling BJP and the opposition regarding the legacy and direction of national employment schemes.
Tharoor made his views clear, emphasizing what he sees as the "immoral" act of removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, he argued against the new bill, which offers an additional 25 days of paid work but places a significant 40% of the financial burden on states. This aspect of the bill has drawn criticism, with concerns raised about the potential strain on state resources.
Tharoor articulated his concerns on social media platform X, stating that the controversy surrounding the renaming of MGNREGA is "unfortunate". He argued that the concepts of Gram Swaraj and Ram Rajya, often associated with Mahatma Gandhi, were not competing ideologies but rather "twin pillars of Gandhiji's consciousness". He cautioned against creating divisions where none existed and emphasized that replacing Gandhi's name in a scheme for the rural poor disregards their profound symbiosis. Tharoor also highlighted that Gandhi's final breath was a testament to 'Ram,' urging against dishonoring his legacy by creating unnecessary divisions.
The Congress party has been vocal in its criticism of the proposed bill, with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge leading the charge. Kharge accused the government of hypocrisy, stating that "Erasing Gandhi's name on the centenary of the Sangh shows how hollow and hypocritical those are who, like Modi ji, offer flowers to Bapu on foreign soil". Other opposition leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, have also attacked the Centre, decrying the move as an attack on the right to work and accusing the government of claiming credit for others' work. Supriya Shrinate also criticized the MGNREGA revamp.
The renaming of the scheme has sparked a broader debate about the appropriation of historical legacies and the role of Mahatma Gandhi in national identity. Tharoor's remarks, while largely aligned with his party's position, have also reportedly triggered unease within Congress, with some sources suggesting he needs to make his position clearer. Despite this, Tharoor clarified that he is objecting to replacing Mahatma Gandhi's name.
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, has faced opposition from not only political parties but also labor rights organizations. These organizations argue that the bill undermines social and economic justice by shifting power away from workers, Gram Sabhas, and states, centralizing it within the Union Government. The opposition has demanded that the bill be referred to the Standing Committee for closer examination and wider consultation. The bill guarantees 125 days of unskilled manual work per rural household.
