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Winter Session Ends Amid Protests: How Opposition Fury Shook Parliament

The Winter Session of Parliament has concluded, but not without significant drama. Speaker Om Birla adjourned the Lok Sabha after meeting with party leaders, capping a session marked by strong opposition protests. The main point of contention was the passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill, which critics say dismantles the foundational principles of MGNREGA. From abroad, Rahul Gandhi launched a fierce critique, labeling the new legislation as fundamentally "anti-state" and "anti-village."

Key Points: Om Birla Meets Party Leaders as Winter Session Concludes Amid VB-G RAM G Bill Protests

  • Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met party leaders after adjourning the Winter Session sine die
  • Opposition protested the VB-G RAM G Bill, calling it a demolition of MGNREGA
  • Rajya Sabha Chairman criticized members' conduct, citing protests and paper-tearing as unbecoming
  • Rahul Gandhi argued the new bill weakens rural workers' bargaining power and rights
3 min read

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla meets party leaders on conclusion of Winter Session of Parliament 2025

Lok Sabha adjourns sine die as Opposition protests VB-G RAM G Bill. Rahul Gandhi, from Germany, slams the legislation as "anti-state" and "anti-village".

"Last night, the Modi government demolished twenty years of MGNREGA in one day. - Rahul Gandhi"

New Delhi, December 19

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday met with Leaders of political parties and Members of Parliament in his chamber at Parliament House on the conclusion of the Winter Session of Parliament 2025.

Meanwhile, amid Opposition protests over the passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill, Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die by Speaker Om Birla after Vande Mataram was played in the House. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who returned from a three-nation visit yesterday, was present in the House.

Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the Upper House of Parliament shortly after it resumed at 11 am today. Prior to its adjournment, statements and reports were laid on the table of the House.

While adjourning the Rajya Sabha sine die, Radhakrishnan said, "The conduct of members during the Minister's reply yesterday, which included protesting and tearing of papers, was unbecoming of the House."

In addition, the Opposition continued its vocal protest against the passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill. On Friday, a united Opposition staged a protest outside Parliament, while members of the Trinamool Congress continued their demonstration on the steps at the entry to the House.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who is currently in Germany, joined the chorus of criticism against the Bill and termed it "anti-state" and "anti-village" by design.

"Last night, the Modi government demolished twenty years of MGNREGA in one day. VB-G RAM G isn't a 'revamp' of MGNREGA. It demolishes the rights-based, demand-driven guarantee and turns it into a rationed scheme which is controlled from Delhi. It is anti-state and anti-village by design," Rahul Gandhi wrote in a post on X.He said that the earlier scheme empowered rural workers and strengthened rural livelihoods.

"MGNREGA gave the rural worker bargaining power. With real options, exploitation and distress migration fell, wages increased, working conditions improved, all while building and reviving rural infrastructure. That leverage is precisely what this government wants to break. By capping work and building in more ways to deny it, VB-G RAM G weakens the one instrument which the rural poor had," he added.

Highlighting the role of MGNREGA during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congress leader further said:

"We saw what MGNREGA meant during COVID. When the economy shut down and livelihoods collapsed, it kept crores from falling into hunger and debt. And it helped women the most - year after year, women have contributed more than half the person-days."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priyanka N
While I respect the need for protest, the scenes described in Rajya Sabha are not acceptable. There are more constructive ways to oppose a bill. On the VB-G RAM G Bill, I'm cautiously optimistic. MGNREGA needed reforms for better efficiency, but I hope the new scheme truly empowers our rural brothers and sisters and doesn't become another bureaucratic hurdle.
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Aryan P
The bill was passed, the session is over. Now the focus should be on implementation. Let's see if VB-G RAM G actually creates the jobs and boosts the rural economy as promised. Action on the ground matters more than protests in Delhi or posts from Germany. 🇮🇳
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Sarah B
Reading about the protests from outside India. Rahul Gandhi's critique about the bill being "controlled from Delhi" is a valid concern. Centralization can often disconnect schemes from local realities. Hope the government ensures strong panchayat-level involvement in this new mission.
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Karthik V
MGNREGA was a lifeline, no doubt. But it had flaws - delayed payments, corruption in some places, and not always creating useful assets. If VB-G RAM G can fix those while still providing a safety net, it's welcome. The opposition's job is to scrutinize, but they should also offer concrete alternatives, not just criticism.
M
Meera T
The point about women benefiting most from MGNREGA is crucial. Any new scheme must retain that focus on women's empowerment and financial independence. I fear a "rationed scheme" will hurt women workers first. The government must clarify how VB-G RAM G will protect their interests.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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