Punjab News: By abolishing MNREGA, BJP took away the guarantee of employment of Dalits and poor: CM Bhagwant Mann – Keeping an eye on every movement of the media world.

By Samira Vishwas On Dec 31, 2025

Akali Dal is also with BJP in this sin, that is why it is silent on ending MNREGA – CM Bhagwant Mann

Aam Aadmi Party will become the voice of Dalits and laborers and will convey their message to PM- CM Bhagwant Mann

BJP’s central government, suffering from ‘anti-Punjab syndrome’, is continuously taking decisions against Punjab – CM Bhagwant Mann

How can India become ‘Vishwaguru’ or ‘Developed India’ by snatching the right to food from the Dalits and the poor?- CM Bhagwant Mann

Running away from debate exposes Congress’s anti-poor mentality and collusion with BJP – CM Bhagwant Mann

In the special session of the Assembly, a resolution was passed against the continuation of MNREGA and the changes made in it by the Central Government.

Punjab News: There was a vigorous discussion in the special session of the Punjab Assembly on Tuesday regarding the newly developed Bharat Ji-Ram-Ji Act brought in place of MNREGA. During this time, the proposal presented against the continuation of MNREGA and the changes made in it by the Central Government was passed by voice vote. CM Bhagwant Mann said that by abolishing MNREGA, BJP has taken away the guarantee of employment of Dalits and the poor. The central government of BJP should immediately withdraw the Developed India-Ram-Ji Act and implement MNREGA again. BJP and Akali Dal are also with it in this sin. That is why he is silent on abolishing MNREGA. But Aam Aadmi Party will become the voice of Dalits and laborers and will convey their message to the PM. The purpose of this law is to snatch not only their food from the weaker and deprived sections, but also their dignity and self-respect.

During the discussion on this issue in the special assembly session held on Tuesday, CM Bhagwant Mann said that the Central Government has destroyed the basic spirit of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) by changing the name of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) to ‘Developed India Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural).’ Under this new law, the right to guaranteed employment/wages has been taken away from poor labourers, women and lakhs of job card holding families and additional financial burden has been placed on the states. The Chief Minister said that a visionary scheme like MNREGA was brought by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh after years of deliberations, whereas now ‘Vikas Bharat Ji-Ram-Ji’ was passed in the Parliament within just a few hours.

The Chief Minister said that MNREGA was a demand-based scheme, while the new scheme is based on standards, which is not in the interest of the general public. He said that in the last financial year, the participation of women under MNREGA in Punjab was 60 percent and the participation of Scheduled Castes was 70 percent, which clearly shows that the beneficiaries of this scheme were the most marginalized sections of the society. The Chief Minister warned that with the implementation of the new law, the economic condition of these sections will worsen as employment opportunities will reduce.

He said that this law is a conspiracy to weaken Scheduled Castes and women socially and economically, which will further increase inequality and cause unnecessary suffering. The Chief Minister alleged that this step of the Central Government is a deliberate attempt to snatch food from the common man, who had got huge benefits from MNREGA. Where earlier the weaker sections used to get assured employment, now that very objective has been abolished.

The Chief Minister said that instead of guaranteeing MSP on crops to the farmers, the Central Government has now taken away the guarantee of their work from the laborers, which will create a widespread crisis. He alleged that this law is part of the policy of the Central Government, under which ‘favourite’ industrialists are given benefits and even the Prime Minister’s foreign trips are planned in their interest. He also said that people sitting in comfortable offices in the capital are making plans for the development of villages of Punjab, which are far away from the ground reality.

The Chief Minister said that the BJP suffers from a deep ‘anti-Punjab syndrome’ and that is why it is continuously taking decisions against the interests of Punjab. Citing cases like Chandigarh, Panjab University, Bhakra-Beas Management Board, he said that every step of the Central Government is being taken to rob the rights of Punjab. He alleged that the Modi government is bent on harming Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that if the BJP-led NDA government has its way, it will not waste any time in removing Punjab’s name from the national anthem. He said that the Central Government is repeatedly behaving like a step-mother. First, through the Agniveer Yojana, opportunities in the army were snatched from the Scheduled Caste youth and now through this new law, their kitchens are being attacked.

The Chief Minister said that on one hand, various types of subsidies are being given to ‘saheb’s friends’ like Adani, while on the other hand, the budget of poor-friendly schemes is being reduced in the name of ‘fiscal management’. He alleged that the central government is misleading the people by only playing the game of words and figures. Taking a dig at changing the name of the scheme, he said that instead of changing the name, the government should have focused on the welfare of the people.

CM Bhagwant Mann raised the question that how can India become ‘Vishwaguru’ or ‘Developed India’ by snatching food and basic facilities from the poor. He also raised questions on the silence of Akali Dal and said that why the Akali leadership is silent despite BJP leaders posting cartoons of Guru Sahibans on social media. He said that the Akali Dal is keeping quiet in the hope of an alliance with the BJP before the assembly elections.

The Chief Minister said that for the coming eight months, the Akali Dal will remain a mute spectator to all the excesses of the BJP government. He also targeted the BJP leaders of Punjab, saying that they are silent on the issues of the state and Punjabis and are not loyal to the people. He reiterated that this scheme is a conspiracy to snatch food from the poor and the Punjab government will never allow it to succeed.

Referring to the people-friendly initiatives of the state government, the Chief Minister said that reservation has been given for Scheduled Caste lawyers in the AG’s office and seats have been reserved for Scheduled Caste students in the flying schools of Amritsar and Patiala. Taking a dig at the Congress leaders, he said that while some leaders talk about the welfare of the public, the Congress leadership is only engrossed in its own interests. He called upon the people of Punjab to unitedly protest against this anti-poor move.

Also read: Punjab: Properties worth Rs 2,730 crore of drug smugglers seized under ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign: CM Bhagwant Mann

The Chief Minister said that his government is the ‘A-Team’ of the people and will take every step in the interest of the state and the people. He warned the Central Government that if such anti-people decisions were taken, the public would not allow them to enter the villages. He reiterated that the Punjab government will oppose this bill tooth and nail and will not allow the Centre’s ‘nefarious intentions’ to succeed.

The Chief Minister said that this step is a direct attack on the dignity and self-respect of the Scheduled Caste category, which will not be tolerated at any cost. He said that the state government is the guardian of the rights of Punjabis and no one will be allowed to loot them.

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The Chief Minister also launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, saying that it was playing cheap tricks to divert attention from the issue. He demanded Congress to give a clear stand on whether it accepts the new plan or not. The Chief Minister said that running away from the debate exposes the feudal and anti-poor mentality of the Congress and shows its collusion with the BJP.

Also read: Progressive Punjab Investor Summit-2026: Investment worth Rs 1.50 lakh crore so far, 5 lakh youth got employment

Targeting Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, the Chief Minister termed him a power-hungry leader and said that he does not even respect the dignity of the House just to remain in the media. He said that instead of raising the issues of the state and the people, Congress leaders are engaged in personal campaigning.