Bengaluru, February 4 (IANS). Both Houses of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution condemning the Central government’s move to bring in the “Develop India – Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Act” and demanding that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act be restored in its original form. The resolution was passed amid strong opposition from members of the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular).
However, BJP said that it is illegal to pass a resolution against the ‘VB Jeeram Ji’ Act in the Legislative Assembly itself.
Opposition members staged a walkout condemning this proposal. Speaker U T Khadar and Speaker Basavaraj Horati conducted the voting on the motion in the Assembly and Legislative Council respectively and declared that the motion against ‘VB Jeeram Ji’ has been accepted in the respective Houses as the state Congress remained in favor of the government in the voting.
After the motion was passed, the proceedings of both the houses were adjourned.
Earlier, speaking in the Assembly, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Priyank Kharge said senior BJP leader L.K. Advani had praised the NREGA scheme. He raised questions as to what exactly is there in the new ‘VB Jiram Ji’ Act. Even BJP leaders do not have complete information about this Act.
BJP MP Varun Gandhi had raised questions on the lives of workers in the Lok Sabha, to which the central government replied that the system is transparent. However, Minister Priyank Kharge alleged that now the Central Government has changed the MNREGA Act itself.
Opposition leader R. Ashok told the media that the ‘VB Jiram Ji’ Act is transparent and the opposition is protesting because Congress agents are now finding it difficult to carry out illegal activities on it. He said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took this decision in violation of the rules and we oppose it.
He said that passing a resolution against the Act in the Legislative Assembly itself is illegal. Notice should have been given seven days in advance and discussion should have taken place. Instead, a sudden proposal was brought and propaganda is being carried out against the central government. A survey by the Rural Development Department revealed that under the Employment Guarantee Scheme, Rs 16,019 crore was misused in 31,624 cases in 2023–24, Rs 50.23 crore in 20,742 cases in 2024–25 and Rs 18.13 crore in 2025–26. This money was looted through favoritism, fake bills and employing Congress agents.
The central government itself does not do any work. All work is done through the Rural Development Department. The Congress government is hesitant in giving its 40% stake due to lack of funds. This scheme is for the people and is transparent. We all oppose this proposal. The NREGA scheme is 20 years old, and has now been renamed after Mahatma Gandhi under the new scheme in the budget. However, Congress has already named more than 400 schemes and institutions after the Nehru family.
Earlier there was 100 days of work under employment guarantee, which has now been reduced to 125 days. This provides 25 additional days of work. There was extensive discussion with all the states on the new scheme. Technical workshops and multi-party meetings were held. At that time Congress did not oppose it, now it is opposing it only for political reasons.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that there was no discussion with the states before implementing the Act. There should have been discussion before introducing the 60:40 financial ratio.
He also said, “Mahatma Gandhi’s name should not be removed and he should not be insulted again. This appeal will be sent to the central government and the President.”
–IANS
AMT/DKP
