Defiance defined Wednesday’s proceedings in Karnataka as lawmakers in both houses approved a strongly worded resolution denouncing New Delhi’s ‘Viksit Bharat Rural Jobs Act’. Targeting what detractors nickname ‘VB Jeeram Ji’, the move insists on reinstating pure MGNREGA form, overriding fierce protests and walkouts by BJP and JD(S).
Assembly debates saw Rural Minister Priyank Kharge dismantle the proposal, citing BJP stalwart L.K. Advani’s past acclaim for MGNREGA and spotlighting Varun Gandhi’s parliamentary queries on labor woes. Kharge slammed the Centre for surreptitiously altering a flagship without transparency or state input.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok dismissed the vote as procedurally void, lacking prior notice and discussion. To media, he praised the act’s upgrades—125 work days versus 100, broad consultations—and accused Congress of shielding corrupt practices. Surveys, he said, exposed massive fraud: 16,019 crore in 2023-24 alone through partisan allocations and bogus claims.
Presiding officers U.T. Khader and Basavaraj Horati tallied votes, confirming passage via government majority before adjourning. Siddaramaiah decried funding ratio impositions and Gandhi’s ‘insulting’ omission, committing to escalate to the President.
Caught in partisan crossfire, the dispute pits innovation against legacy. The Centre highlights evolved consultations and state reluctance on 40% shares, while Karnataka alleges rushed overreach. With rural economies hanging in balance, this Bengaluru battle may catalyze wider scrutiny of job scheme evolutions, weighing efficiency gains against assured entitlements.