Punjab Assembly passes resolution against G RAM G

Chandigarh: The Punjab assembly on Tuesday unanimously passed a resolution against the VB-G RAM G Act in the Vidhan Sabha, accusing the BJP-led Centre of “taking away” the livelihoods of the poor and Dalit labourers by scrapping MGNREGA under a “deliberate conspiracy”.

The House recommended that the Punjab government seek from the Centre to immediately restore the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to its original right-based form.

The House also took note that Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) (SAD) has maintained “silence” on this entire issue in the hope of reestablishing an alliance with the BJP for the 2027 assembly polls.

The AAP government had called a one-day special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to oppose the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB-G RAM G). However, the two BJP MLAs were not in the House when the resolution was passed.

The ruling AAP leaders called the Centre’s move of bringing the VB-G RAM G Act to replace the MGNREGA as “anti-poor”, claiming it will “snatch away bread from the mouths of the poor”.

The AAP leaders also described it as “an attack on the federal structure”.

During the session, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond tabled the resolution in the House for discussion.

Sond said that the VB-G RAM G Act will severely impact below-poverty-line families, Scheduled Caste (SC) communities and rural labourers who depend on the MGNREGA for survival.

Alleging that the Centre wanted to “finish” the MGNREGA, Sond demanded its restoration.

According to the resolution, the BJP central government has taken away the livelihood of Dalit labourers, Dalit families and the poor Dalit community by scrapping MGNREGA.