Rahul Gandhi Slams Modi Government's G RAM G Bill as Direct Attack on Mahatma Gandhi's Legacy and Rural Poor

New Delhi:

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has launched a scathing criticism against the BJP government over the introduction of the G RAM G bill – a proposed rural employment scheme intended to replace MGNREGA, which was established in 2005 under the UPA administration.

Gandhi described the G RAM G bill as an "insult to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi" and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is attempting to eliminate secure livelihood options for rural poor communities after already devastating employment opportunities for India's youth.

In his post on X, Gandhi, who serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleged that PM Modi has consistently opposed Mahatma Gandhi's ideals and has been working to undermine the scheme bearing his name since 2014. He firmly stated that the Congress party would oppose any such initiative.

"Modiji has a deep hatred for two things - the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and the rights of the poor. MGNREGA is a living embodiment of Mahatma Gandhi's dream of village self-rule. It is a lifeline for millions of rural lives and proved to be their economic shield during COVID," Gandhi declared.

"But Prime Minister Modi has always been irritated by this scheme, and for the past 10 years, he has been trying to weaken it. Today, he is determined to wipe out MGNREGA completely."

The G RAM G bill – formally titled the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 – was introduced in the Lok Sabha this afternoon.

The introduction faced significant opposition, with several MPs protesting, including Rahul Gandhi's sister, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and senior party leader Shashi Tharoor. They raised numerous objections, particularly regarding the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme.

Rahul Gandhi emphasized that MGNREGA was founded on the right to employment, autonomy for villages to determine their own development projects, and central government funding for wages and 75 percent of materials.

"Now, Prime Minister Modi wants to change this… to concentrate all power solely in his own hands. The centre will decide the budget, schemes, and rules; states will be forced to bear 40 percent of the expenses, and as soon as the budget is exhausted or during the crop harvest season, no one will get work for two months."

MGNREGA vs G RAM G

The key distinction is that MGNREGA is fully sponsored by the central government, with 100 percent of unskilled workers' wages coming from the central budget. States contribute only a small portion of total expenses.

The G RAM G bill significantly alters this funding structure, requiring states to bear 40 percent of overall costs. Opposition leaders, including those from the BJP's ally – Andhra Pradesh's ruling Telugu Desam Party – have objected to this change, citing the increased financial burden on state governments.

For northeastern and Himalayan states, the funding ratio will be 90:10, while union territories will receive complete funding from the central government. This means that out of the estimated annual expenditure of Rs 1.51 lakh crore, the Modi government will now only fund Rs 95,692 crore.

However, government sources informed NDTV that the G RAM G bill aligns with the broader 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision. The shift from a demand-based model to normative funding brings it in line with the budgeting approach used for most central government schemes.