Opposition will use all democratic means to demand restoration of MGNREGA: Congress

New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday said that opposition parties protested against the "bulldozed repeal" of MGNREGA in a dignified manner during President Droupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, and asserted that all democratic means will be used to demand restoration of the UPA-era law.

President Droupadi Murmu's reference to the VB-G RAM G Act in her address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament sparked protests from opposition parties which raised slogans demanding a roll back of the law.

In her address, the President said the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) would provide guarantee for 125 days of work, and would also stop corruption and leakages.She also asserted that it would provide a new impetus to rural development.

While the President's mention of the VB-G RAM G Act was welcomed by treasury benches by thumping of desks, Opposition members raised slogans demanding roll back of the law.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Today during the Hon’ble President’s Address to both Houses of Parliament, all Opposition parties most respectfully and in a dignified manner protested the bulldozed repeal of MGNREGA." "The Opposition will use all democratic means to demand the restoration of MGNREGA," he asserted.

President Murmu paused during her address as the opposition raised slogans like "vapas lo" (roll back the Act).

The Act is set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Opposition parties are demanding the withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law in its original form, the right to work and the authority of panchayats.

The government has, meanwhile, claimed that the new Act will further strengthen the rural employment guarantee.