Deputy LoP Pramod Tiwari said that whenever the Congress returns to power, it would reverse the scheme in its initial form and bring back Mahatma Gandhi’s name. He alleged that the Centre, equipped with the majority, is bulldozing the world largest scheme. 

“This is not just renaming. The Government has introduced conditions which are to eliminate the scheme. Godse killed Gandhi physically, today they have killed him ideologically,” Tiwari added.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, Congress MP Mukul Wasnik stated that the Bill would have an adverse effect on crores of people. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Indu Bala Goswami said that 70 percent of the nation’s population resides in villages, and this Bill is aimed towards improving their lives. She added that the Bill would help build a Viksit Bharat.

Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena (UBT) said that her party opposed the Bill as it is against the poor, labourers and farmers “The Bill was passed in dark Lok Sabha and another attempt is being to get passed in dark…In the name of god, they are trying to hide their wrongdoings. The Bill put a burden of Rs 29,000 crore on states therefore, they will not take it responsibility and give priority to this. Effectively it will kill employment. This should have been sent to the Select Committee and brought to the House,” she said. 

While opposing the Bill, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Kumar Jha said that it is a piece of legislation, which has ignored the consultation door.

The member of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Ritabrata Banerjee sought to know why wider consultations with States and all stakeholders were not held before bringing the Bill. YSRCP’s S Niranjan Reddy said that the Bill needs deeper introspection, and it should be sent to a Select Committee.

AIADMK’s M Thambidurai said that employment in rural India is a question of livelihood, security, and social stability. He said that any reform in such a crucial law must be examined with seriousness and responsibility. He added that the most significant and welcome feature of this Bill is the increase in the guaranteed number of employment days from 100 to 125 in a financial year.