On December 16, 2025, the government presented the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, or VB-G RAM G Bill, in Parliament. This Bill aims to replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The move triggered loud protests from opposition parties. Lawmakers marched from the Lok Sabha chamber to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Parliament, urging that the Bill be referred for further study. Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “The (Narendra) Modi government has done more for rural development than previous governments. We not only believe in Mahatma Gandhi but also follow his principles... We will fully develop the village and work to establish a balance between agriculture and labour… This entire Bill is in line with Gandhiji’s sentiments and is meant to establish Ram Rajya.” Opposition leaders strongly opposed the Bill. DMK’s T.R. Baalu said, “The father of the nation is being ridiculed.” Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called MGNREGA a “revolutionary Act” that had unanimous support from Parliament. She added, “This Bill (VB-G RAM G) is weakening the employment rights of the poor. It is against the Constitution.” She accused the government of replacing the demand-driven MGNREGA with a fixed budget and criticized centralization of decisions. Priyanka Gandhi warned that cutting the Centre’s funding share from 90% to 60% would strain states already hurt by GST delays. She proposed sending the Bill to a parliamentary panel, saying, “Mahatma Gandhi was not from my family, but he was from every family in the country.” Congress’s Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of opposing Gandhian ideas and weakening rural workers’ rights. He said, “Modi ji has a deep hatred for two things — the ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and the rights of the poor.” Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called the Bill a “retrograde step” and criticized the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name. He said it “strips the Bill of its moral compass and historical legitimacy” and quoted a Hindi film song to caution against maligning Ram’s name. Other opposition voices, including the Trinamool Congress and RSP, demanded detailed reviews and pointed out financial problems for states. Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal called the promise of 125 days work “hollow” and said, “Your name will be remembered as a Minister who removed Mahatma Gandhi’s name.” Opposition members stormed the Well of the House with Gandhi’s photos. Amid the uproar, Minister Chouhan said the Bill reflects Gandhian ideals and aims to create “Ram Rajya” in villages. Later, opposition MPs marched to Gandhi’s statue. Women MPs shouted slogans from the old Parliament balcony. Left parties staged protests before the session began. Congress announced nationwide protests for December 17, organizing district-level demonstrations. K.C. Venugopal called the Bill an attack on Gandhiji’s legacy, workers’ rights, and federalism, saying it exposed a BJP-RSS plan to replace rights-based welfare with Centre-controlled charity. He called it both a “political and moral struggle.”