As soon as a new bill related to MNREGA scheme was introduced in the Lok Sabha, political turmoil has started. The Central Government has proposed to change the name of this scheme to VB-Ji Ram Ji, against which the opposition has lodged a strong protest. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has launched a scathing attack on the government, terming this bill as against the spirit of the Constitution.
Priyanka Gandhi said in Parliament that the government is showing more interest in changing the names of schemes, but their funding at the ground level is continuously being reduced. He raised the question that when money is spent on new boards, documents and publicity every time the name is changed, then why is there silence on increasing the wages of workers. He also said that the bill talks about increasing the working days from 100 to 125, but there is no mention of increasing the daily wage.
Why did Priyanka Gandhi give an emotional reaction?
Priyanka Gandhi gave an emotional reaction to the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name. He said that even though Mahatma Gandhi may not have been a member of his family, he was like family to the entire country. It is not right to make changes in such a big plan based on the thoughts or preferences of one person. Priyanka demanded that there should be a comprehensive discussion on this bill first and it should be sent to the Standing Committee, so that suggestions from all parties could be incorporated.
Trinamool Congress expressed objection
Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy also raised objection on this issue. He said that Lord Ram is revered by all, but in today’s times, Mahatma Gandhi’s thinking and his legacy are more relevant. He also warned that under the new provisions, a large part of the scheme’s funding has been shifted to the states, which will put additional economic pressure on them.
Congress General Secretary criticized
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal also criticized the decision, saying that Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will be remembered as the leader who removed Mahatma Gandhi’s name from a national scheme. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav also called it an insult to Bapu. This bill has been introduced by Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan in the Lok Sabha and currently the debate on it is going on. The opposition says that unless the basic objective of the scheme, the interests of the workers and the role of the states are openly discussed, such a change cannot be accepted.
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