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The Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Thursday after the passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill due to the opposition uproar over its provisions.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lambasted opposition’s INDIA bloc over its “disgraceful” uproar during the debate on the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 (G RAM G) in the Lok Sabha, saying that their conduct had “tarnished democracy” as they turned democracy into “mobocracy”.
While addressing a press conference after Lok Sabha passed the G RAM G bill, which will replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Chouhan termed the alleged tearing of the Bill and MPs getting onto the tables as “murder of Bapu’s ideals.”
“I strongly condemn the disgraceful behaviour of the Congress and the INDI bloc MPs in Parliament. Through their behaviour, the opposition disgraced democracy, tore parliamentary traditions to shreds and turned democracy into ‘bheedtantra’ (mobocracy) and ‘goondatantra’ (hooliganism),” he said as quoted by news agency PTI.
“They tore the papers, stood atop the desks. Is it not the murder of Babu’s ideals? Was it not immoral and undignified?” Chouhan asked.
During the debate, opposition members protested in Parliament for the “removal” of the original name of the law. The MPs who wanted the G RAM G bill sent to a standing committee, protested in the Well with photos of Mahatma Gandhi and tore up copies of the bill after Speaker Om Birla vetoed further discussion.
The Union Minister said that the conduct of the opposition in the Lok Sabha undermined democracy and parliamentary decorum, and they have thoroughly disregarded the spirit of democracy. He said that he listened with complete seriousness to the addresses of 98 MPs who participated in the long discussions on the Bill in the Lok Sabha because debate and discussions are the soul of democracy.
“Parliament is not a building of bricks and mortar… but a temple of democracy. Meaningful discussions should take place. I listened carefully to what our opposition friends said. I was fully prepared to give my reply. But they did not allow me to complete my reply and disrupted the proceedings of the House,” he added as quoted by the news agency.
Chouhan asked why the opposition was objecting to the name of the legislation. “What was the fuss over the name of the Bill? The Congress has ‘Ram’ on its lips but a dagger in its heart. The opposition is only concerned about the name but we are more focused on work,” he said.
Lok Sabha Ruckus
The Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Thursday after the passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill due to the opposition uproar over its provisions. The opposition raised slogans against the government and tore copies of the Bill as Chouhan delivered his concluding remarks.
The Centre introduced the Bill, called The Viksit Bharat Guarantee For Rozgar And Ajeevika Mission (Grameen), shortened as VB G RAM G, two days ago, seeking to replace the 20-year-old MGNREGA with a new initiative.
What’s In The Bill?
According to the government, the new Bill presents a new framework aimed at fulfilling the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision. Chouhan said that previously, there was a guarantee of 100 days of employment, which has now been increased to 125 days. Adequate funds totalling Rs 1,51,282 crore have been proposed to support this expansion. Of this amount, the Centre’s share exceeds Rs 95,000 crore, he said.
The Union Minister said according to the new scheme, the government plans to build a complete village, a developed village, an employment-rich village and a poverty-free village besides giving a guarantee.
“This is the resolve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that is why this new scheme has been introduced,” he said.
Chouhan said the government has prepared a comprehensive plan, including what a developed village will look like.
“The village will have proper infrastructure — school, health centre, water reservoir, Anganwadi centre, livelihood works, roads and the like so that the village is well developed,” he said.
The minister said “garib kalyan” (welfare of the poor) is the resolve of the BJP. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, not one but numerous schemes are being undertaken to improve the lives of the poor, he added.
“That is why, more than 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line,” the minister added.
(With inputs from agencies)
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 18, 2025, 19:25 IST
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