BJP Questions Punjab Govt's Shift on Centre's Rural Job Scheme After Six Months
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for its change in stance on the central government's VB-G RAM G employment guarantee scheme. The BJP termed this shift as a significant policy reversal.
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri pointed out that in December 2025, the Punjab government had convened a special session of the Vidhan Sabha to pass a resolution against the scheme, calling it 'anti-Dalit, anti-labourer, anti-farmer, and anti-woman'. Now, six months later, the state has decided to implement the same scheme.
Puri alleged that the change in stance is due to the state's deteriorating financial condition and mounting debt. He said, 'It is the biggest U-turn in democratic governance. On December 30, 2025, Bhagwant Mann ji's government convened a special session of the state Assembly. During that session, they said that the central scheme VB-G RAM G, which offered 125 days of employment, was anti-Dalit, anti-labourer, anti-farmer, and anti-woman, and demanded that this black law should be rolled back.'
The BJP's remarks come amid ongoing political debates over the implementation of central schemes in states governed by opposition parties. The central government's VB-G RAM G scheme aims to provide 125 days of guaranteed employment per year to rural households. The Punjab government's earlier opposition was based on concerns that the scheme might undermine existing state-level initiatives.
However, the state government recently announced its decision to implement the scheme, citing the need to provide additional employment opportunities in rural areas. Officials have not directly commented on the BJP's allegations but have stated that the decision was taken after considering the welfare of the people.
The issue highlights the complex dynamics between state and central governments in India, where policy positions can shift based on political and economic considerations.
