A fierce political clash erupted in Parliament on Tuesday as Congress MP Shashi Tharoor openly challenged the BJP-led government’s move to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) with a new law titled Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Tharoor delivered a sharp and emotional critique, warning the government against removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from a scheme that, according to him, was built on Gandhi’s core idea of self-reliant villages. “It is immoral to erase Gandhi from a programme meant for rural India,” Tharoor said, adding that the move risks diluting the moral and philosophical foundation of rural employment welfare.

The intervention drew special attention as Tharoor has recently been in the spotlight for his differences with the Congress leadership, and amid speculation about his political future. Despite the buzz, his stand in Parliament firmly aligned with the Opposition’s resistance to the new bill.

While acknowledging that the proposed law promises 25 extra days of guaranteed work, Tharoor questioned the hidden cost behind the announcement. Under the new framework, states will be required to shoulder 40 per cent of the total expenditure— a sharp departure from the existing system where the Centre bears almost the entire wage cost.

Taking the debate beyond numbers, Tharoor urged the government not to politicise national icons. “Do not sully Ram’s name by using it to erase Gandhi,” he cautioned, arguing that invoking cultural symbols should not come at the cost of social justice or federal balance.

Later, in a post on social media platform X, Tharoor reiterated that Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of village self-sufficiency lies at the heart of rural employment schemes. He warned that removing Gandhi’s name creates unnecessary divisions and ignores India’s historical and moral roots.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the attack, demanding the withdrawal of the bill. She questioned why the government was fixated on renaming a scheme that has supported rural livelihoods for nearly two decades. She further pointed out that renaming and restructuring such a massive programme involves heavy administrative costs and risks weakening its impact.

Opposition parties argue that the new funding structure will strain state finances, especially at a time when many states are already under economic pressure. Even allies of the BJP, including leaders from the Telugu Desam Party, have expressed unease over the increased financial burden on states.

Although the Centre has clarified that northeastern and Himalayan states will continue with a 90:10 funding ratio, and Union Territories will remain fully funded by the Centre, critics say the overall shift signals a gradual withdrawal of central responsibility.