Opposition reminds govt of farm law protests: ‘People will be on streets’

LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge sought to underline that MNREGA was in line with Article 41 and rooted in the sentiment of ensuring food for the poor.

“Today… you are snatching away those basic rights. Your intent behind this is what? To weaken the poor…” he alleged.

“…One day you will have to face a time similar to when you retracted the three ‘black farm laws’. Do you want another agitation?… People will come onto the streets, will face bullets, but we will keep fighting,” he said.

Congress MP Mukul Wasnik said, “This (Bill) is not for the benefit of the people, but has been brought as a political weapon. MNREGA provided for a 90-10 cost-sharing arrangement; today a 60-40 ratio has been kept. Did the government speak to states before deciding this? They will be burdened more, their financial condition will be weakened further… a federal system cannot work like this,” Wasnik said.

Congress MP Digvijaya Singh said, “This BJP government is basically anti-labour… they did away with 44 laws to bring the Labour Code which snatched the right to form a trade union from them… by increasing 100 days to 125 days you have just given them a lollypop but you do not have funds available for that.”

BJP MP Indu Bala Goswami said the scheme would result in all-round development of rural areas and empower the rural economy.

“Stronger rural infrastructure will increase access to urban areas; increasing rural production is the aim of the Bill which will be done by panchayats. The changes brou­ght about in this Bill will not just be laws, but a commitment to connect rural India with Viksit Bharat,” she said. “…Our PM Narendra Modi never used Mahatma Gandhi’s name as a symbol for political gain like Con­g­ress, but accepted Bapu’s principles in reality. In each of his schemes, Bapu’s principles, his dreams have been implemented.”

RJD’s Manoj Jha said, “…This is one of those pieces of legislation which has completely ignored the consultation corridor. This does not speak well about our democratic practice, our Parliamentary procedure, our rich history; it only smacks of a kind of arrogance which comes from a sense of following majoritarian politics and that’s antithetical to the idea of India.”

TMC MP Derek O’Brien said, “The Bill comes from a feudal mindset… MNREGA was a right, now they want to dish it out as a dole before polls”

Jatin Anand is an Assistant Editor with the national political bureau of The Indian Express. With over 16 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is a seasoned expert in national governance, electoral politics, and bureaucratic affairs. Having covered high-stakes beats including the Election Commission of India (ECI), intelligence, and urban development, Jatin provides authoritative analysis of the forces shaping Indian democracy. He is an alumnus of Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU) and the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, where he specialized in Print Journalism. Expertise High-Stakes Beat Coverage: Throughout his decade-and-a-half career, Jatin has covered some of the most sensitive and influential beats in the country, including: The Election Commission of India (ECI): Monitoring electoral policy, reforms, and the conduct of national and state polls. National Security & Intelligence: Reporting on the internal mechanisms and developments within India's security apparatus. Urban Development: Analyzing the policies and bureaucratic processes driving the transformation of India’s cities. National Political Bureau: In his current role, he tracks the intersection of policy and politics, offering deep-dive reporting on the Union government and national political movements. Academic Credentials: Zakir Husain Delhi College (DU): Alumnus of one of Delhi's premier institutions. Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai: Specialized in Print Journalism at India's most prestigious journalism school. ... Read More

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