Congress Working Committee to decide future course of action on VB-G RAM G: Kannan Gopinathan

The Congress Working Committee (CWC), scheduled to meet on December 27, will decide on the party’s future course of action against the Union government’s decision to replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), AICC spokesperson Kannan Gopinathan said in Puducherry on Monday (December 22, 2025). Addressing a press conference at the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee office, he contended that the Centre’s intent was to “murder” the MGNREGA legislation brought in by the erstwhile Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. The BJP government’s decision was an insult to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and federalism, added Mr. Gopinathan. “Our rural job scheme was recognised worldover for its appeal among poor people. It was an act of giving people the right to employment, rather than treating them as mere subjects. The Centre, by replacing MGNREGA, has murdered a pro-poor legislation. Our CWC will decide on the future course of action, including whether to take legal recourse on the subject,” he said. When it was pointed out that one of the arguments for replacing the MGNREGA was the “corruption” involved in the execution of the scheme, he said “the Central government nurtures a thought that everybody, other than them, was corrupt. But it was not true. The MGNREGA was debated for months by the Standing Committee and universally accepted for its role in providing economic safety for the poor.” The implementation of the new legislation would increase the financial burden of the States. When the Centre retains entire control over the rules, the financial burden of the States would go up substantially, as 40% of the expenses have to be incurred by the State government. Former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, Member of Parliament and PCC chief V. Vaithilingam, former Minister M. Kandasamy, and senior vice-president of PCC P.K. Devadoss were present. Published - December 22, 2025 03:30 pm IST

Preview: ~324 words