Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin on Wednesday delivered a scathing critique of the principal opposition AIADMK, accusing it of maintaining a conspicuous silence on the central government's proposed VB-G RAM G Bill that seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Stalin warned that the legislation would severely undermine the interests of farmers and the rural poor, potentially jeopardizing their livelihoods.

In a pointed social media statement, Stalin charged the AIADMK with betraying agrarian communities despite its professed commitment to their welfare. He demanded an explicit clarification from the party on its stance regarding the bill, emphasizing its direct implications for economically vulnerable rural populations. The Chief Minister invoked past instances, including AIADMK's alleged support for the controversial three farm laws and the Citizenship Amendment Act, to question whether general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami would again align with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on this matter.

Stalin further condemned the union government's decision to remove Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme and rebrand it in Hindi, viewing it as an imposition contrary to regional sentiments. He highlighted the irony of AIADMK's inaction, given that the party draws its name from former Chief Minister C N Annadurai, a staunch opponent of Hindi imposition. Additionally, the Chief Minister alleged that the new framework would centralize control over scheme conditions while shifting partial financial responsibilities to states, questioning whether the AIADMK had acquiesced without resistance and if late leader J Jayalalithaa would have tolerated such arrangements.

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Expressing grave concerns over the potential discontinuation of the 100-day employment guarantee in Tamil Nadu, Stalin posed a series of questions reflecting widespread public apprehension. He challenged whether a party repeatedly deferring to the central government could legitimately retain the 'Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam' moniker, framing his inquiries as echoes of the people's collective unease.

In a related development, Left parties including the CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, and the VCK announced statewide protests on December 23 against the central government's initiative. In a joint declaration, leaders underscored the historical role of Left parties in securing the original 2005 Act under the UPA regime, with support from DMK and Congress. They accused the BJP-led administration since 2014 of progressively eroding the scheme through budget cuts, reduced workdays, and delayed funding. Demonstrations are planned across district, taluk, and union headquarters in Tamil Nadu, urging the withdrawal of the bill and preservation of MGNREGS in its current form.

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