Sukhbir Badal demands immediate withdrawal of new law replacing MGNREGA, calls it ‘Anti-Poor’
Babushahi Bureau
Amritsar (Punjab), December 22, 2025: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB G RAM G) law, which replaces the centrally funded Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA).
He termed the new law “anti-poor” and alleged that it would severely harm the interests of disadvantaged sections by diluting the guaranteed 100 days of employment.
Addressing a press conference here, Badal criticised both the renaming of the scheme and the restructuring of its funding pattern, which now requires states to bear 40 per cent of the cost.
He said the earlier scheme was named after Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, and accused the Centre of indulging in unnecessary politics by changing its name. “Renaming a scheme associated with Mahatma Gandhi is not appropriate and reflects political motives,” he remarked.
Badal also expressed concern over the revised Centre–State funding ratio of 60:40, warning that financially strained states would struggle to implement the scheme effectively.
He alleged that states governed by parties indulging in financial mismanagement, including the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, would be unable to contribute their share, leading to increased suffering among the poor and downtrodden.
Citing Punjab as an example, the SAD chief claimed that both the previous Congress government and the present AAP regime had weakened the state’s financial position.
He alleged that due to this, the AAP government had failed to deposit its share in several centrally sponsored schemes, including those related to health and family welfare, adversely affecting public services.
Badal warned that if the state government failed to contribute its share under the new VB G RAM G scheme, rural workers in Punjab would be the worst affected.
He further criticised the Centre for curtailing the availability of the scheme during certain periods, stating that this would reduce the total number of workdays available to rural labourers. Calling for united opposition, Badal urged all political parties, including the AAP, to jointly protest against the implementation of the new scheme.
He alleged that the Punjab government had spent nearly ₹4,400 crore on advertisements, which, he claimed, came at the cost of contributing to welfare schemes.
Badal also referred to alleged corruption and scams under MGNREGA during both Congress and AAP regimes in Punjab, claiming that crores of rupees were misappropriated, leading to denial of benefits in several districts and prompting changes in the nature of the scheme.
Terming the new law as an attack on the federal structure, the SAD president said that while the Centre was centralising powers, it was simultaneously shifting the financial burden onto states. He reiterated that the SAD had been advocating for a genuine federal structure for over two decades.
The SAD chief also accused the AAP government of manipulating elections to Zila Parishads and Block Samitis. He alleged large-scale rejection of SAD nomination papers across several constituencies in Punjab, particularly in the Majha region, and claimed that despite these hurdles, the party had performed well in the elections.
Additionally, Badal raised concern over the alleged physical obstruction of a peaceful Nagar Kirtan in New Zealand, calling it a dangerous precedent. He said Sikhs had made significant contributions to New Zealand society and urged the country’s government to safeguard their religious rights. He appealed to the Union Government to take up the matter with New Zealand authorities to prevent such incidents in the future.