Shivraj Chouhan Accuses Congress of Hypocrisy Over G RAM G, Says ‘Ram on Lips, Dagger in Heart’

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, accusing the opposition of undermining parliamentary traditions during the passage of the G RAM G Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Reacting to the chaos that followed the bill's approval, Chouhan said the conduct of opposition MPs had damaged democratic norms and reduced Parliament to disorder.

'Democracy Turned Into Mob Rule', Says Chouhan

Referring to the scenes witnessed in the House after the Speaker cleared the bill through a voice vote, Chouhan said he was deeply disturbed by the manner in which the opposition protested. "I am distressed. My heart is heavy. Opposition has transformed democracy into mob rule," he said while addressing reporters.

Opposition MPs, who demanded that the G RAM G Bill be referred to a standing committee, entered the Well of the House holding photographs of Mahatma Gandhi. Some lawmakers also tore copies of the bill after Speaker Om Birla rejected further debate and proceeded with the vote.

"Parliament is not a building of bricks and mortar... but a temple of democracy. Meaningful discussions should take place. I listened carefully to what our opposition friends said (during the debate yesterday) and today, I was supposed to answer all the questions," Chouhan said.

'Betrayal of Bapu's Ideals'

Condemning the protest, the minister said the actions of the opposition went against the very principles they claimed to uphold. "But the kind of undignified behaviour that was displayed... is a betrayal of Bapu's ideals," he remarked.

"I strongly condemn the actions of the opposition," Chouhan added. "Today, parliamentary traditions were shattered. Democracy has been turned into mobocracy."

Taking a swipe at the Congress over its objections to the renaming of schemes, Chouhan recalled earlier welfare programmes. "There have been many schemes for rural development... when MNREGA came. It was not named after Jawaharlal Nehru. So was it an insult to him?" he asked.

'Ram on Lips, Dagger in Heart' Remark

Escalating his criticism, Chouhan accused the Congress of hypocrisy. "The Congress has 'Ram' on its lips but a dagger in its heart," he declared, drawing sharp political reactions.

He also responded to accusations that the government was indulging in a "renaming craze", an issue raised by Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the brief discussion on the bill.

Government Defends G RAM G Bill Provisions

Defending the replacement of the 20 year old MNREGA scheme, Chouhan said the new legislation strengthens rural employment guarantees rather than weakening them. "Earlier, (guaranteed) employment was for 100 days, now it is for 125 days," he said.

He added that the G RAM G Bill includes special provisions aimed at supporting weaker sections of society. Addressing concerns over the revised funding model, under which states will contribute 40 per cent of wage costs, Chouhan said the Centre would still shoulder the majority of the burden. According to him, the Union government will contribute over Rs 95,000 crore out of the proposed Rs 1.51 lakh crore allocation.

After the House was adjourned, Priyanka Gandhi reiterated the opposition's stance against the bill. "Anyone who reads it will understand how the rural employment guarantee scheme is about to finish. It puts the funding burden on states... but states don't have money. MGNREGA supports the poorest of the poor. This bill is anti-poor!" she told reporters.