Amritsar, Dec 23: Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of Shiromani Akali Dal, on Monday demanded repeal of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-GRAM G) Bill, which replaced MGNREGA, calling it financially burdensome and politically motivated.
“The AAP government and all political parties should jointly protest against this scheme,” Badal said after visiting the Golden Temple. He criticised the name change and said the new law violates the federal structure by forcing states to bear 40 per cent of costs previously covered entirely by the Union government.
Badal also addressed other issues, including alleged irregularities in the state’s local body elections. “Out of 3,800 block samitis, the nominations of SAD candidates were rejected on 1,100 seats, compared to only 300 rejections of Congress candidates. In the Majha region, there were widespread rejections,” he said.
He further criticised the obstruction to a nagar kirtan in New Zealand, calling it a “dangerous precedent” and urging the New Zealand government to protect Sikhs’ rights to practice their religion.
