Congress leaders and several opposition MPs on Thursday protested against the renaming of MNREGA to VB Ji Ram Ji from the Gandhi statue to Makkar Dawar in the Parliament complex.
The MPs took out a march carrying posters with the slogan “We will not tolerate insult to Mahatma Gandhi”. Opposition MPs also raised the issue of atrocities against minorities and protested in the Parliament complex.
Nearly 14 hours of debate took place in the Lok Sabha yesterday on the Developed India-Gramji (Rural Employment and Livelihood Mission) Amendment Bill, with the opposition demanding sending the proposed bill to the standing committee, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly defended the bill, calling it a decisive step towards achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047.
Many Congress MPs strongly opposed the renaming of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and change in its funding pattern.
Congress MP K. Suresh urged the House to refer the bill to a standing committee, calling it “important” and requiring thorough scrutiny. He said the duration and intensity of the debate itself underlines the importance of this bill.
Suresh said, “This is an important bill, that is why it was discussed for so long in the House. More than 98 members from both the parties participated in this debate. The opposition party is strongly opposing this bill. India Block has demanded that this bill be sent to the standing committee.”
He further said that the House will discuss air pollution today.
Congress MP Vamsi Krishna Gaddam said the government’s intentions were becoming clear through what he termed “unnecessary decisions”.
He said, “Except BJP, we all in the country love Mahatma Gandhi. It is sad to know that Mahatma Gandhi’s name is being removed from this scheme and instead of 100 per cent central fund as before, now 40 per cent fund will be given by the state government.”
He alleged that the ideology of BJP and RSS is against public interest.
Congress MP Praniti Shinde accused the government of passing the bill in a hurry. “The discussion is still going on and the time for discussion has also been extended. Perhaps they want to pass this bill quickly. Congress strongly opposes the name change. They want to erase Mahatma Gandhi’s name and rewrite the history of the country. This bill has been weakened,” he said.
Meanwhile, the sixth session of the 18th Lok Sabha will begin at 11 am on Thursday to discuss a number of legislative, policy and committee related matters with special focus on air pollution in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) under Rule 193.
MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Bansuri Swaral will express concern over the worsening air pollution in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) and its impact on public health.
The House proceedings will begin with paying homage to the demise of former MPs Darur Pullaiah, Professor Mahadevarao Shivankar, Kusuma Krishna Murthy and Shamanur Shivashankarappa. After this, the members will submit the prescribed questions for discussion and the concerned minister will answer them.