New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Thursday approved the G Ram G Bill, intended to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), amid heated protests from opposition members. The passage of the bill sparked a chaotic scene in the House, with MPs expressing strong dissent over the legislative process.
Opposition parties had demanded that the bill be referred to a standing committee for detailed scrutiny before being tabled for voting. When the Speaker ruled that the bill had already been debated sufficiently, frustration erupted on the floor. Several MPs tore up copies of the legislation in protest and raised slogans from the Well of the House, signaling their strong disapproval.
Despite the disruptions, the bill was passed and is now slated to be introduced in the Rajya Sabha for further consideration.
The passage of the G Ram G Bill marks a significant step in restructuring rural employment policy, but the protests underscore continuing political tensions over legislative reforms affecting key welfare programs.