The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Punjab unit is set to initiate a major public outreach campaign to defend the central government's new employment guarantee law. State party president Sunil Jakhar declared that the drive will commence from Fazilka on January 7.
Countering Opposition Narrative on Employment Scheme
Jakhar's announcement comes in direct response to a resolution passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha against the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act (VB-G RAM G). The state assembly, dominated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), had accused the BJP-led central government of orchestrating a "deliberate conspiracy" to scrap the UPA-era MGNREGA, thereby "taking away" livelihoods of poor and Dalit labourers. The House had urged the Punjab government to press the Centre to restore MGNREGA in its original rights-based form.
In a strong rebuttal, Jakhar positioned the new Act as a progressive step aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. He asserted that the campaign aims to "expose the misleading propaganda" spread by the ruling AAP and the Congress party in the state.
Key Features and Anti-Corruption Focus
Defending the VB-G RAM G Act, the BJP leader highlighted several key provisions. He stated that the number of guaranteed employment days for beneficiaries has been increased from 100 to 125. More importantly, he emphasized that the new law introduces a system of accountability.
"While the government has increased the number of guaranteed employment days... the new scheme also fixes accountability in cases where no work is provided to labourers," Jakhar explained. He claimed this mechanism would effectively tackle corruption, a critique often levelled against the previous scheme.
He further pointed out that under the new law, the entire wage amount for labourers will be directly credited to their bank accounts, ensuring transparency and preventing leakages. "This is why the AAP government and the Congress are opposing the new scheme," Jakhar alleged, suggesting the opposition fears the loss of corrupt channels.
Allegations of False Propaganda
Jakhar accused the AAP government of engaging in "false" propaganda to mask its own administrative failures and divert public attention from pressing issues. He contrasted the new law with the past, noting that previously, no official was held responsible for failing to provide the mandated 100 days of work.
"However, under the new law, accountability will be fixed, and the rights of the poor can no longer be denied," he stated. The BJP's planned extensive public awareness programme, starting from Fazilka, is designed to break this "web of misinformation" and educate labourers about the actual benefits of the VB-G RAM G Act.
The political battle over the rural employment guarantee scheme is set to intensify in Punjab as the BJP takes its campaign directly to the people from next week.
