Ludhiana, Punjab: Senior BJP leader and former IAS officer SR Ladhar on Friday strongly criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress for their protests against the VB-G RAM G employment scheme, describing the opposition’s agitation as politically motivated and “morally hollow.” Speaking at a press conference alongside BJP district president Rajnish Dhiman, Ladhar accused the opposition of deliberately misleading the public about the scheme’s objectives and budgetary provisions.

Opposition Allegations Dismissed

The protests by AAP and Congress had centred around claims that the VB-G RAM G scheme involved budget cuts and infringed on state authority. Ladhar refuted these allegations, stating that the total budgetary provision under the scheme exceeded ₹1.51 lakh crore, marking an increase rather than a reduction. With mandatory contributions from state governments, the total allocation was set to rise further.

He emphasised that opposition parties were using the scheme as a political tool rather than engaging with its substantive reforms. “Instead of supporting a reform-oriented, pro-poor initiative of the Centre, AAP and Congress are spreading misinformation to protect vested interests and shield corruption,” he said.

Constitutional Clarifications

Ladhar also addressed concerns regarding the Punjab Assembly’s role in opposing the scheme. He pointed out that state assemblies cannot pass resolutions against central laws, noting, “Such resolutions have no constitutional or legal standing and amount to political theatrics aimed at confusing people.” He urged the state government and opposition parties to understand that Parliament-enacted laws take precedence over assembly resolutions, underscoring the legal framework governing the scheme.

Key Reforms Under VB-G RAM G

Highlighting the scheme’s enhancements, Ladhar outlined several key reforms:

• Guaranteed Employment: Increased from 100 days to 125 days per beneficiary.
• Unemployment Allowance: Payable if work is not provided within 15 days, ensuring workers are compensated promptly.
• Digital Monitoring: Introduction of geo-tagging, direct benefit transfers, digital attendance, and real-time dashboards to ensure transparency and reduce corruption.
• Shared Financial Responsibility: Revised funding structure encourages financial discipline, better planning, and quality asset creation.

Ladhar stressed that these reforms promote dignity of labour, sustainable development, and transparency in implementation. He challenged the Punjab government on several fronts, asking why social audits of panchayats were not conducted, why Centre-flagged irregularities were not addressed, why unemployment allowances were delayed, and why average employment levels remained below the mandated threshold.

Uniform Application Across States

Ladhar further pointed out that the scheme is uniformly applicable across all states, including those ruled by the BJP, which were also fully covered under the scheme and subject to the same rules, standards, and monitoring mechanisms. He questioned the opposition’s selective criticism, asking why protests were raised in Punjab when the framework applies universally.

Political Implications

Describing the VB-G RAM G scheme as a pro-poor, reform-oriented initiative, Ladhar contended that the opposition’s resistance stemmed from discomfort with accountability mechanisms and transparent governance reforms. He warned that the misinformation campaign could undermine a scheme aimed at improving employment and rural livelihoods.

The press conference was attended by several BJP leaders including district general secretary Yashpal Janotra, vice president Manish Chopra, Naval Jain, press secretary Dr Satish Kumar, social media secretary Rajan Pandey, and Surinder Kaushal.

Conclusion

Ladhar’s statements frame the opposition protests as politically opportunistic rather than substantive, reiterating the BJP’s commitment to implementing reforms that ensure transparent governance, increased employment, and accountability. The party’s message to both the Punjab government and its citizens is clear: the VB-G RAM G scheme is designed to empower workers, promote financial discipline, and strengthen rural development, while opposition attempts to discredit it are based on misinformation and political theatrics rather than facts.