Opposition Protests ‘Viksit Bharat–Ji Ram Ji’ Bill, Chirag Paswan Criticizes Walkout

New Delhi: The opposition erupted in protest after the Parliament passed the ‘Viksit Bharat–Ji Ram Ji’ bill, which replaces the MNREGA scheme. While ruling party leaders defended the move as a necessary reform, Union Minister and LJP-R MP Chirag Paswan sharply criticized the opposition, questioning why they were objecting to a name that invokes Lord Ram, a name revered by Mahatma Gandhi.

Opposition Stages Protest

The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha during the day and in the Rajya Sabha late at night. TMC MPs led the opposition, staging a 12-hour sit-in on the Parliament steps. Paswan questioned their protest, asking: “Why oppose in the name of Ram? It was Mahatma Gandhi’s most beloved name, and he uttered it in his last moments—‘He Ram’.”

Chirag Paswan Targets TMC MPs

Addressing the opposition’s conduct in Parliament, Paswan said MPs were misusing Gandhi’s name while disrespecting parliamentary proceedings. Throwing papers and disrupting ministers is not in line with Gandhi’s ideals, which emphasized peace and non-violence.

Defense of the Bill

Paswan explained that the bill is not merely a name change but an extension and improvement of existing schemes. “Opposition members should focus on Gandhi’s work, not just his name. This bill modernizes the scheme, ensuring efficiency and accountability,” he added.

BJP Leaders Highlight Reforms

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat called the renaming necessary to improve implementation, citing past inefficiencies in MNREGA. The scheme’s employment guarantee has been increased from 100 to 125 days, with technology integration aimed at greater productivity and transparency. BJP MP Darshan Singh Chaudhary added that the new bill addresses corruption, enhances state accountability, and introduces digital systems, making administration more effective.

The passage of the Viksit Bharat–Ji Ram Ji Bill has sparked a heated debate over tradition, reform, and political tactics, highlighting the clash between symbolic names and substantive governance reforms.