Several Opposition leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, held a demonstration inside the Parliament complex. They are demanding the withdrawal of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, which seeks to replace the UPA-era MGNREGA.

Key Points of Contention:

• Removal of Gandhi’s Name: Opposition leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal, accused the government of “murdering democracy” by removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the flagship rural job scheme.

• Weakening the Law: Critics argue the new bill dilutes worker rights, though the bill proposes a statutory guarantee of 125 days of work.

• Financial Burden: State governments (like the TDP-led Andhra Pradesh) have flagged concerns about the increased financial burden on states under the new 60:40 funding ratio.

Recent Disruptions and Other News

The current Winter Session has been highly volatile due to several overlapping issues:

• National Herald Case: On Wednesday, December 17, Congress MPs protested against “vendetta politics” after a Delhi court recently declined to take cognisance of an Enforcement Directorate (ED) complaint in the case.

• “Vote Theft” Claims: Earlier this week, proceedings were adjourned following heated clashes between Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi over alleged electoral fraud and “vote chori” during the Winter Session’s ninth day.

• Safety Concerns: On December 15, the Treasury benches (BJP) forced adjournments, demanding an apology from Congress for alleged slogans raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life during a rally.

What’s Next in Parliament?

The government is expected to continue the debate on the VB-G RAM G Bill today, with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan slated to reply to the discussion. Additionally, a special discussion on air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region is scheduled for later this evening.