Former Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday sharply criticised the BJP-led government over claims made in President Droupadi Murmu’s address to Parliament. President Murmu in her speech talked about the promise of 125 days of rural employment under the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act. Chidambaram pointed it out and called the 125-day promise an “illusion” rather than a genuine guarantee.
Reacting to the President’s address at the start of the Budget Session, Chidambaram took to X to dispute the government’s assertion that the new law ensures 125 days of employment in villages. “Wrong, Madam President!” he wrote.
The Congress leader argued that past experience under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act shows that such promises are not backed by adequate funding. “The average number of days of employment provided to a household in recent years under MGNREGA was 50 days. Not because of lack of demand but because sufficient funds were not provided,” he said.
‘How will avg 50 days magically surge’
Chidambaram further questioned how the government intends to scale up employment generation without significantly increasing allocations. “How will the average of 50 days magically jump to 125 days? Will the government provide 2.5 times the money provided in 2024-25 and 2025-26? The ‘125 days’ is not a guarantee. It is an illusion,” he said. He added that the promise amounted to a “hollow” commitment.
He also mocked the announcement, saying, “Why stop with 125 days?…You might as well guarantee 365 days in a year.”
President’s address in Parliament
The Budget Session of Parliament began on Wednesday with President Murmu addressing a joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. As she highlighted the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act and its proposed employment guarantee, opposition MPs stood up and protested inside the House.
In her address, President Murmu said, “For employment and development in rural areas, Viksit Bharat-G RAM G law has been formed. With this new reform, there will be 125 days of employment guarantees in villages.”
The Budget Session will have 30 sittings spread over 65 days and is scheduled to conclude on April 2. Both Houses will adjourn for a recess on February 13 and reconvene on March 9 to allow Parliamentary Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants of various ministries and departments.