The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Monday launched a sharp critique against the Narendra Modi-led Union government over a proposed legislative move to replace the flagship rural jobs scheme. The party accused the Centre of attempting to erase the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi by planning to substitute the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new bill named The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB–G RAM G) Bill, 2025.
TMC Leaders Decry 'Erasing Founders' Names'
Leading the charge, TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien condemned the initiative, labeling it "an insult to Mahatma Gandhi." He connected the move to the ruling BJP's historical allegiances, stating, "But then, are you surprised! These are the same people who hero-worshipped the man who killed Mahatma Gandhi. They want to insult Mahatma Gandhi and remove him from history."
Echoing this sentiment, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh voiced strong objections through a post on social media platform X. He questioned, "Is the Modi govt completely erasing Mahatma Gandhi's name? The new bill doesn't even include ‘Pujya Bapu'. They've subtly included the name ‘Ram'." Ghosh warned of widespread protests if Gandhi's name was entirely removed in this fashion.
From 'Pujya Bapu' to 'RAM G': The Escalating Controversy
The controversy first surfaced last week when reports emerged from the parliamentary session about plans to rename the 100-day rural job guarantee scheme. Initially, it was indicated that the scheme would be rebranded from ‘Mahatma Gandhi' to ‘Pujya Bapu Gramin Rozgar Guarantee', with an additional proposal to increase the guaranteed workdays from 100 to 125.
However, the plot thickened on Monday. When the list of bills scheduled for introduction in Parliament was reviewed, the proposed legislation was listed as ‘The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Rural)', with the shorthand note ‘VB-G RAM G Bill 2025' beside it. This final nomenclature, conspicuously dropping any reference to Gandhi, ignited the TMC's fury.
Addressing a press conference, Kunal Ghosh escalated the attack, calling the move "an assault on Gandhi's philosophy and ideals by BJP." He elaborated, "For the past few days, it was clear that the Union govt planned to delete Mahatma from the scheme's name. Why delete the name given by Rabindranath Tagore? Now, ‘Pujya Bapu' is gone too. Instead, it's called RAM G. What Ram is this? If it is Lord Ram, we will worship him. But why insult Mahatma Gandhi?"
Vows of Protest and Political Repercussions
Ghosh declared the party's intent to resist the change both inside and outside the halls of Parliament. In a charged statement, he said, "We will protest both inside and outside Parliament. They are enemies of Gandhi; they worship his killers." This framing positions the renaming issue not merely as a bureaucratic change but as a deep ideological battle over historical memory and national icons.
The proposed bill was slated for introduction in Parliament on Monday, marking a concrete step in the government's plan to overhaul the nearly two-decade-old rural employment guarantee scheme. The TMC's vehement opposition sets the stage for a contentious parliamentary debate, with the party portraying itself as the defender of Gandhi's legacy against what it perceives as a systematic effort to diminish his contributions to modern India.
