Punjab Assembly holds a special session on MNREGA Amendment Bill. CM Bhagwant Mann calls it a betrayal of workers as MLAs bring letters against the bill.
The Punjab government convened a special session of the state assembly on Tuesday to discuss the MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) Amendment Bill, which has sparked political controversy in the state. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann criticized the bill, calling it “a major betrayal of the workers.” He highlighted that the central government introduced the amendment just 14 hours before and rushed it through the President’s approval. The Punjab government summoned the special session to inform the public about the bill’s implications and safeguard workers’ interests.
During the session, the government presented a special motion to initiate discussion on the bill. AAP MLAs arrived with bundles of letters collected from workers across various constituencies, highlighting opposition to the amendment. Several workers were also invited to witness the proceedings in the assembly. Chief Minister Mann emphasized that thousands of workers had submitted letters expressing their concerns, which the government is taking seriously.
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Opposition Accusations
The Punjab BJP has accused the state government of corruption and irregularities in the MNREGA scheme. Ashwani Sharma, Punjab BJP Executive President, claimed that although the central government’s intentions are in the best interest of workers, the Punjab government failed to implement the scheme responsibly. He alleged that the AAP government has avoided mandatory social audits, with 6,095 Gram Panchayats in 2024-25 and 7,389 Gram Panchayats in 2025-26 left unaudited.
Sharma further accused the government of misleading MNREGA workers and coercing them into signing letters against the current law. He noted that over the past three years, the government has failed to provide 100 days of guaranteed employment to workers. Out of the corruption cases detected by the Special Audit Unit, 3,986 cases remain unaddressed, indicating protection of the culprits. Additionally, recovery orders amounting to ₹2.35 crore issued by the Lokpal have not been implemented yet.
Opposition Demands Full Winter Session
Leader of the Opposition Pratap Bajwa wrote to Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, requesting the government to convene a full winter session instead of just a special session so that other key issues could also be discussed alongside MNREGA.
With the special session underway, Punjab is witnessing intense debate over the MNREGA Amendment Bill. Chief Minister Mann reaffirmed that the state government is committed to protecting workers’ rights and exposing any irregularities or misuse associated with the scheme.
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