Opposition protests during President’s address, govt calls it deplorable

President Droupadi Murmu’s reference to the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act during her address to a joint sitting of Parliament on Wednesday triggered protests from Opposition parties, who raised slogans demanding rollback of the law set to replace MGNREGA.

The President was addressing a joint sitting of both the houses of Parliament ahead of the Budget Session when Opposition members objected to the scrapping of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). As slogans, such as “vapas lo” (roll back the Act), were raised, President Murmu had to take a brief pause.

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In her address, the President said the VB-G RAM G Act would guarantee 125 days of employment, curb corruption and leakages, and provide fresh momentum to rural development. While Treasury Benches welcomed the announcement by thumping desks, the Opposition members continued their protest inside the House.

Opposition parties have criticised the legislation for removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name, altering the rights-based framework of MGNREGA, and doing away with the 60:40 funding ratio between the Centre and the states.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the Opposition would continue to oppose the repeal of MGNREGA through democratic means. In a post on X, he stated that Opposition parties had protested “most respectfully and in a dignified manner” against what he described as the bulldozed repeal of MGNREGA.

The government, however, condemned the protests. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Opposition’s conduct during the President’s address had brought shame to the country, accusing Congress and its allies of repeatedly disrupting the proceedings even when tributes were being paid to national icons. “What the Opposition did when the President was addressing both Houses of Parliament makes the country ashamed. The country will never forgive Congress and its allies,” Rijiju said.

Union minister J P Nadda also criticised the Opposition, calling their actions “condemnable and deplorable.” Accusing the Opposition parties of violating parliamentary decorum and insulting national symbols, he said: “The entire country witnessed this scene, I can’t understand why Congress and the INDIA alliance harbour so much hatred for Vande Mataram, Bankim Babu, and the soil of West Bengal. Surprisingly, the Trinamool Congress was also partnering in this Opposition disruption! The way these people have hurt the dignity of Parliament is highly condemnable. No amount of condemnation is enough. These people should apologise to Parliament and the country.”

The VB-G RAM G Act was passed in the Winter Session of the Parliament in 2025 and replaced the 100-day employment guarantee with a 125-day guarantee.