"Biggest U-turn in democratic governance": Hardeep Singh Puri slams AAP govt in Punjab for implementing VB G RAM G scheme

Speaking to ANI, the Union Minister pointed out that the Punjab government had vehemently opposed the same central scheme, which offers 125 days of employment, only to adopt it now due to the state's "sinking economy".

"You call this a new decision; I term it the biggest U-turn in democratic governance. On December 30, 2025, Bhagwant Mann's government convened a special session of the state assembly. During that session, they declared 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 the withdrawal of this 'black law.' Just six months later, they executed a massive U-turn--so drastic that they actually implemented the scheme, announcing its rollout starting July 1st," Puri said.

Highlighting the dire financial straits of the border state, the Union Minister stated that the U-turn was necessitated by a mounting debt crisis.

"Why did they do this? Because Punjab's economy is sinking. In the 2026-27 budget, the total debt stands at Rs 4.07 lakh crore. Their debt-to-GSDP ratio is around 46 per cent; compare this to the national average, which is 29 per cent. Why did they make this U-turn? The question arises: when there is a beneficial scheme that could help the people of your own state, why not adopt it?" he questioned.

The development comes after the Ministry of Rural Development, in a notification issued earlier, confirmed the nationwide implementation of the new law (VB-G RAM G).

With its enforcement, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, stands repealed, marking what the government termed a structural shift towards an "integrated, future-ready and productivity-oriented rural transformation" aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. The Centre has allocated over Rs 95,600 crore for the scheme in the current financial year.

"With the coming into force of the VB-G RAM G Act, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 2005, stand repealed from the same date. This marks a historic transition in India's rural development framework and ushers in a new era of integrated, future-ready and productivity-oriented rural transformation aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047," a release said.

The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act was passed in the Winter Session of Parliament in 2025 and replaces the 100-day employment guarantee with a 125-day guarantee. However, the Opposition has criticised the legislation for removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme and altering the 60:40 share of funds between the Centre and states.

Meanwhile, addressing the purported video allegedly showing the desecration of Sikh Guru photos by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Puri chose to focus on the broader narrative of governance rather than the controversy itself.

"I do not want to get into the matter of that video. Whether the video went viral or not is something I do not wish to discuss. However, the current reality across the country is the governance of the Prime Minister and his achievements over the past 12 years, as well as his role as a social servant. Regarding the BJP and the double-engine government--there is no question of a political deal here. It is quite possible that people might choose to implement our schemes, which can benefit the entire nation for their own selfish reasons. We welcome the implementation of good schemes there to help improve their economic situation," the Minister added. (ANI)