Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government while opposing the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G Bill) in the Lok Sabha, invoking a popular 1971 Bollywood song to underline his criticism.
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The Thiruvananthapuram MP quoted the song line,
“Dekho o deewano ye kaam na karo, Ram ka naam badnaam na karo,”
to question the intent behind the legislation, asserting that the bill was not a simple administrative change but an assault on the very spirit and philosophical core of the rural employment programme.
The VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and was introduced in the Lok Sabha amid strong opposition protests over the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the flagship scheme. Opposition members demanded that the bill be referred to a parliamentary standing committee for detailed scrutiny.
Introducing the bill, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Narendra Modi government believes in and follows Mahatma Gandhi’s principles, claiming that the Centre has delivered more for rural development than previous administrations. However, opposition MPs, including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, strongly objected to dropping Gandhi’s name from the law.
Tharoor described the proposed legislation as a “deeply regrettable and retrograde step” that weakens the country’s commitment to the welfare of its most vulnerable citizens. He argued that Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Ram Rajya was not political symbolism but a socio-economic framework grounded in village empowerment and Gram Swaraj.
Tharoor said,
“The original Act acknowledged this deep connection by bearing Gandhi’s name. Employment guarantee and upliftment must flow from the grassroots, reflecting his principle of putting the last person first. Removing his name strips the bill of its moral compass and historical legitimacy,”
He also criticised the bill’s title, which combines languages to form the acronym “G RAM G,” calling it a violation of constitutional norms and mocking the attempt through his song reference.
Additionally, Tharoor questioned the financial restructuring proposed under the bill, particularly the move to place 40% of the financial burden on state governments. He warned that the measure was fiscally irresponsible and could render the programme unworkable across states.
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