New Delhi

Union Minister Giriraj Singh criticised the TMC MPs for their 12-hour sit-in protest in parliament premises over the passing of Viksit Bharat G-RAM-G Bill. He called the protests a political play, not intended to benefit labourers.

"Only those who have nothing to do with labourers will protest against the VB-G RAM G Bill 2025. Only those who have to do politics will protest against it.", he said.

"Is it wrong to offer a 125-day guarantee instead of a 100-day guarantee? This is in the interest of labourers. Those who are opposing it are enemies of labourers. They can sit for 12 days or 12 hours, but this fact is that this is for the betterment of the labourers," he added.

This comes after members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) began a 12-hour sit-in dharna (protest) against the passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee For Rozgar & Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill.

TMC MPs Sagarika Ghose, Derek O'Brien, Sushmita Dev, Dola Sen, Ritabrata Banerjee, Mausam Noor, Prakash Chik Baraik, and other party MPs, along with the INDIA bloc MPs, were present at the protest site.

TMC MP Dola Sen criticised the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), saying that the party was not a part of the freedom struggle and hence does not respect freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi.

"BJP people were not a part of the freedom movement, so they have no respect for Mahatma Gandhi and other freedom fighters," she said.

She further stated that Mahatma Gandhi was again assassinated when the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, also known as the VB-G RAM G Bill, was passed in the Parliament.

"Their predecessor, Nathuram Godse, assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, and these people respect him. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated in 1948, and yesterday he was assassinated once again in the House because his name was dropped from NREGA..." she added.

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The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 18 and the Rajya Sabha on December 19 amidst uproar from the opposition party.

The Government maintains that the bill is introduced with improved conditions compared to the MGNREGA Bill. One highlight is the increase to 125 guaranteed workdays, up from 100.