Thu Dec 18 20:54:57 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a news article version:
Summary:
Opposition parties in India are vehemently protesting the passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill 2025, which they say replaces the MGNREGA rural employment program in a way that hurts the poor, farmers, and rural workforce. They accuse the government of rushing the bill through Parliament without proper debate, insulting Mahatma Gandhi (whose name was associated with MGNREGA), and shifting financial burdens onto state governments. Opposition MPs staged an overnight protest and plan to take their concerns to the streets.
News Article:
Opposition Stages Overnight Protest Against New Employment Bill
New Delhi – Opposition parties in India are in an uproar following the passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill 2025 in both houses of Parliament on Thursday, December 18th. The bill, intended to replace the existing MGNREGA rural employment program, has sparked accusations of anti-poor and anti-farmer policies.
Members of Parliament from parties including Trinamool Congress and Congress staged an overnight “dharna” (protest) within the Parliament complex, vowing to take their protests to the streets nationwide.
“The manner in which the Modi government has brought in this completely anti-poor, anti-people, anti-farmer, anti-rural poor VB-G RAM G Bill, and has done away with the MGNREGA is a Grave insult to the Mahatma , to Rabindranath Tagore and to the rural workforce which depends on MNREGA,” said Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose, accusing the government of “bulldozing” the bill through with insufficient debate.
Opposition leaders argue that the bill was passed with undue haste, preventing proper scrutiny and input from all stakeholders. They also expressed concerns that the new legislation will place an unfair financial burden on state governments, potentially leading to the collapse of the program.
Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala called it “a sad day for the country’s labour force,” alleging the government had “attacked the livelihood of 12 crore people.” DMK MP T. Siva criticized the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme, drawing a parallel with the relocation of Gandhi’s statue within the Parliament grounds.
The ruling party has yet to issue a comprehensive response to the opposition’s accusations. The VB-G RAM G Bill now awaits further steps to become law.
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