Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah vehemently criticized the NDA government for repealing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and replacing it with the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, passed hastily on December 18, 2025. Addressing a joint press conference with Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, he announced coordinated nationwide protests by the Congress party and state government to demand its withdrawal. Siddaramaiah accused the move of eroding rural workers' rights at the behest of RSS ideology, likening it to historical opposition by BJP leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi.

The CM highlighted MGNREGA's foundational role since its 2005 launch under PM Manmohan Singh, guaranteeing demand-driven employment within gram panchayats for 12.16 crore workers nationwide, including 54% women. In Karnataka alone, 71.18 lakh active workers—36.75 lakh women—relied on it for livelihoods. He alleged the new supply-driven VB-G RAM G Act shifts control to the Centre, violating Articles 258, 280, and the 73rd Amendment by disempowering gram sabhas and panchayats, thus undermining federalism and decentralization.

Siddaramaiah detailed the financial fallout, noting the Act imposes a Rs 3,000 crore burden on states by requiring 40% cost-sharing, unlike MGNREGA's full central funding. He warned of dire consequences like surging unemployment, rural migration, wage exploitation, reduced women's participation, and hardships for Dalits and Adivasis. Citing Manusmriti influences on RSS thinking, he framed the repeal as an assault on the poor, vowing a farmers' protest-style struggle with allies to scrap the law.

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The Karnataka Cabinet discussed the issue on Friday, prompting Siddaramaiah's letter to PM Narendra Modi on December 30, 2025, opposing the "unconstitutional" changes. He lambasted BJP's 11-year record of renaming 30 schemes—like Nirmal Bharat to Swachh Bharat and Indira Awas to PMAY—while diluting welfare. Shivakumar echoed that the fight transcends politics, affecting poor livelihoods across states, including BJP-ruled ones, and pledged unified action for repeal.

Ministers like Priyank Kharge, Sharan Prakash Patil, K.H. Muniyappa, and Laxmi Hebbalkar attended, signaling broad governmental backing. The CM drew parallels to the farm laws' withdrawal, asserting relentless protests until MGNREGA's restoration with its core rights intact. This stance positions Karnataka at the forefront of opposition to perceived central overreach on rural employment guarantees.

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