Opposition Leaders Expose G RAM G Bill Fears in Parliament Protest

By John Pranay (Editor)

Opposition leaders in India staged a 12-hour overnight protest in the Parliament complex on Thursday, December 18, 2025, in response to the passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill. The bill aims to replace the existing MGNREGA rural employment programme, sparking widespread criticism from opposition parties. The protest, which began at midnight, saw leaders from various parties, including the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and DMK, gathering in the Parliament complex to express their dissent.

The opposition's protest against the VB-G RAM G Bill is the latest development in a long-standing dispute over India's rural employment programme. The bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha post-midnight, seeks to replace the MGNREGA programme, which has been in place since 2006. The opposition parties have accused the government of bulldozing the bill through Parliament without adequate consultation, and have warned that the new scheme will collapse due to the excessive burden it will place on states.

Key actors involved in the protest include:

• Congress leader Mukul Wasnik, who accused the government of undermining the livelihoods of 12 crore workers by repealing MGNREGA.

• Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose, who accused the Union government of bulldozing the VB-G RAM G bill.

• DMK leader Tiruchi Siva, who decried the symbolic erasure of India's moral heritage by shifting the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and B.R. Ambedkar to the far side of Parliament.

• December 18, 2025: Opposition leaders stage a 12-hour overnight protest in Parliament complex against the passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill.

• Midnight: The Rajya Sabha passes the VB-G RAM G Bill, despite opposition protests.

• Thursday, December 18, 2025: Opposition leaders continue their protest, with Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala describing the day as a "sad day for India's labour force".

• Friday, December 19, 2025: The opposition's collective anger simmers, with their 12-hour sit-in a vivid testament to their disapproval and determination.

The opposition's protest against the VB-G RAM G Bill has significant humanitarian implications, particularly for the 12 crore workers who rely on the MGNREGA programme for their livelihoods. The opposition parties have accused the government of undermining the livelihoods of these workers, and have warned that the new scheme will collapse due to the excessive burden it will place on states.

The opposition's protest has also triggered international alliances, with the DMK leader Tiruchi Siva pointing out that even in Britain's parliament, there is a statue of Mahatma Gandhi, but in India's parliament, his statue is hidden from view.

The VB-G RAM G Bill is the latest chapter in a long-standing dispute over India's rural employment programme. The MGNREGA programme, which was introduced in 2006, has been a cornerstone of India's rural employment policy, providing a safety net for millions of workers. The opposition parties have accused the government of undermining the livelihoods of these workers by repealing MGNREGA, and have warned that the new scheme will collapse due to the excessive burden it will place on states.

The passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill is also significant in the context of India's rural development policy. The bill seeks to replace the MGNREGA programme with a new scheme that will provide employment opportunities to rural workers. However, the opposition parties have accused the government of bulldozing the bill through Parliament without adequate consultation, and have warned that the new scheme will collapse due to the excessive burden it will place on states.

The opposition's protest against the VB-G RAM G Bill is likely to continue, with the opposition parties planning to take their resistance nationwide. The government, on the other hand, has defended the passage of the bill, saying that it will provide employment opportunities to rural workers.

In the coming days, the opposition parties are likely to intensify their protests, with the DMK leader Tiruchi Siva promising to take the fight to the streets across the country. The government, meanwhile, will likely continue to defend the passage of the bill, saying that it will provide employment opportunities to rural workers.

The passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill is a significant development in India's rural employment policy, with far-reaching implications for the livelihoods of millions of workers. The opposition's protest against the bill is a testament to the deep-seated concerns of the opposition parties, who have accused the government of undermining the livelihoods of these workers.

However, the government's decision to pass the bill without adequate consultation is a worrying trend, suggesting that the government is willing to bulldoze its policies through Parliament without regard for the concerns of the opposition. This raises important questions about the government's commitment to democratic principles and its willingness to engage with the opposition in a constructive manner.

Crucially, this overlooks the fact that the MGNREGA programme has been a cornerstone of India's rural employment policy for over a decade, providing a safety net for millions of workers. The government's decision to replace it with a new scheme without adequate consultation is a reckless move that will have far-reaching consequences for the livelihoods of these workers.

This suggests that the government's priorities lie elsewhere, and that it is willing to sacrifice the livelihoods of millions of workers in pursuit of its own agenda. This is a worrying trend, and one that deserves close scrutiny from the opposition parties, civil society, and the media.

Our internal tone gauge currently reads: Bearish for this development.

1. Opposition holds overnight protest in Parliament against G RAM G bill — https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/opposition-holds-overnight-protest-in-parliament-against-g-ram-g-bill-23608429

2. Opposition sits on overnight protest in parliament against passage of G RAM G bill — https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/opposition-sits-on-overnight-protest-in-parliament-against-passage-of-vb-g-ram-g-bill/article70413276.ece

3. Opposition stages overnight protest in Parliament against G RAM G Bill — https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/politics/opposition-stages-overnight-protest-in-parliament-against-g-ram-g-bill

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.