In a dramatic turn of events that stretched past midnight, the Indian Parliament passed the contentious VB-G RAM G Bill, effectively ending the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replacing it with a new rural employment law. The late-night proceedings on December 19, 2025, sparked immediate and fierce protests from opposition parties, who accused the government of bulldozing a transformative legislation without adequate debate.
Opposition Stages Walkout, Announces Overnight Dharna
The Rajya Sabha witnessed high drama as members from several opposition parties, including the TMC, Congress, and DMK, staged a walkout. Raising slogans against the government, they condemned the passage of the bill as a "murder of democracy." Leaders from these parties announced an immediate overnight protest, with many MPs deciding to sleep on the pavements outside Parliament House in a powerful display of dissent.
They argued that the government was rushing through a bill with far-reaching consequences for rural India, bypassing proper parliamentary scrutiny and discussion. The sudden scheduling of the vote in a midnight session became the flashpoint for their anger.
Government Defends New Law's Provisions
In sharp contrast to the opposition's fury, the government staunchly defended the VB-G RAM G Bill. Ministers cited several key improvements over the previous MGNREGA framework. They highlighted provisions for higher funding, better accountability mechanisms, and an expanded scope of employment guarantees aimed at more effectively addressing rural unemployment.
The government's stance was that the new law represents a necessary evolution and upgrade of rural welfare, designed to deliver benefits more efficiently and with greater transparency. They framed the opposition's protest as obstructionist politics.
A Confrontational Moment in Parliament's History
The passage of the bill under the cover of night, followed by the extraordinary sight of elected representatives sleeping outside the legislature, marked one of the most confrontational moments in the current parliamentary session. The deep political rift over the bill is expected to extend well beyond the walls of Parliament, setting the stage for continued political and possibly public confrontation in the coming days.
The event underscores the intense polarization on key policy issues and foreshadows a turbulent political landscape as the new rural employment scheme moves from legislation to implementation.
