Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], December 30 : Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday strongly criticised the Punjab Assembly for holding a one-day session to pass a resolution against the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, stating that such a move goes against the basic spirit of India's federal structure.
Speaking on the issue, Chouhan said the legislation was discussed in detail in the Lok Sabha and that the government had allowed ample time for debate before its passage.
"In the Lok Sabha, there was a debate on this bill for more than eight hours. I was noting down the suggestions from each MP. I had already told the opposition parties that you must listen to my response, but they did not listen to my response and only created an uproar. An attempt was made to prevent me from speaking. The dignity of Parliament's decorum was torn to shreds, but even then, I firmly presented my point," Chouhan said.
The Union Minister further questioned the intent behind convening a special session of the Punjab Assembly to oppose a law passed by Parliament, asserting that such actions undermine constitutional principles.
"Today, a one-day session is happening in Punjab, and the agenda includes discussing against this law passed by Parliament. A law has been made in Parliament, and passing a resolution against it in the assembly goes against the basic spirit of our federal structure," he added.
President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Viksit Bharat--Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB--G RAM G) Bill, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the transformation of rural employment policy.
The Act enhances the statutory wage employment guarantee to 125 days per financial year for rural households. It seeks to advance empowerment, inclusive growth, convergence of development initiatives and saturation-based delivery, thereby strengthening the foundation for a prosperous, resilient and self-reliant Rural Bharat.
The Act replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a modern statutory framework that enhances livelihood security and is aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.