DMK will force BJP to withdraw Bill replacing MNREGA with ‘anti-farmhands’ scheme, says Stalin

The DMK, which is “delivering people-friendly governance” in Tamil Nadu through a range of welfare schemes, will force the BJP-led Union Government to recall its move to destroy the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) through its proposed “anti-people scheme”, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Sunday (December 21, 2025).

“Since the proposed scheme [VB-G RAM G Bill], which has been adopted without any debate [rushed manner] in the Parliament, will render the poor rural farmhands jobless and destroy their livelihood, the DMK and its allies will thwart the BJP’s plans through sustained protests that would begin on December 24,” Mr. Stalin said at a meeting in Palayamkottai in Tirunelveli district.

Editorial | Change for the worse: On MGNREGA to VB-G RAM G

Mr. Stalin charged the “pro-rich BJP”, which neither respected Mahatma Gandhi nor loved the poor, was taking methodical steps to destroy MNREGA introduced by the erstwhile Congress-led government for ensuring decent income to the rural poor farmhands. The BJP, ever since it assumed office, had drastically reduced the outlay and denied MNREGA funds to State Governments forcing them to bear this expenditure. The number of MNREGA ‘working days’ was reduced leaving the poor farmhands jobless for several days.

After destroying the very purpose of the MNREGA, the BJP had introduced a new scheme in “incomprehensible Hindi name” to blow deathknell to the MNREGA.

“The new scheme compels the already strained State Governments to bear 40% of the wages of farmhands. This move only reaffirms that the pro-rich BJP is not connected with the poor and this anti-poor Union Government even did not allow any discussion about the new scheme in the Parliament. Even though activists and economists are raising alarm over this move, the BJP is keen on going ahead with it to decimate the poor. Hence, the DMK and its allies will force the BJP to withdraw it,” Mr. Stalin said.

Terming AIADMK general secretary and Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami as “fake farmer” for earlier supporting the “anti-farmer laws” and not objecting to the Centre’s new scheme to destroy MNREGA, Mr. Stalin said Tamil Nadu was closely watching this. The AIADMK had also supported the CAA/NRC.

Expressing happiness over the inauguration of ‘Porunai Archaeological Museum’ standing testimony to the ancient Tamils’ unique and progressive civilization, Mr. Stalin said the DMK government had created these museums at Palayamkottai and Keeladi despite the hurdles created by the BJP, “which never wants us to highlight the Tamils’ pride to the world”.

“Even as the BJP is searching for mythic River Saraswati and obstructing our efforts, we, with scientific backing and credible evidences, are creating archaeological museums. Though Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an on-site museum would be established at Adichanallur, nothing has happened there. We have created Porunai museum to display artefacts [excavated at Adichanallur, Sivakalai, Korkai and Thulukkarpatti]. I sincerely invite Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit these museums where we have piled-up unquestionable scientific evidences of ancient Tamils’ unique civilization,” he said.

He appealed to Tamils to visit the Keeladi and Porunai museums with family and friends.

He lauded Ministers Thangam Thennarasu and E.V. Velu and Finance Secretary T. Udhayachandran for their tireless work in completing the ‘Porunai Archaeological Museum’ works in record time in aesthetic fashion.

“You people made the Keeladi Museum a super hit and have now fulfilled the historic duty,” he said.