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                                                                                                                                                          Chandigarh: A special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha was convened on Monday to deliberate on the impact of recent changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005, and the Centre’s proposed Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB–G RAM G] Act.

During the session, the state government is set to move an official resolution urging that the issue be taken up with the Centre. The resolution seeks retention of MGNREGA’s demand-based, rights-based and fully centrally sponsored framework, and calls for a reconsideration of provisions of the VB–G RAM G Act, arguing that it imposes an undue financial burden on states and dilutes the statutory right to employment for rural labourers.

The government will also table three legislative bills during the session — the Punjab Abadi Deh (Record of Rights) Amendment Bill, the Indian Stamp (Punjab Second Amendment) Bill, and the Punjab Land Revenue (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

Stormy Session Expected as Parties Lock Horns

The proceedings are expected to be contentious, with members of the Aam Aadmi Party, Indian National Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal likely to criticise the BJP over the amended VB–G RAM G Act. The BJP, meanwhile, is expected to press for a discussion on the law-and-order situation in the state.

Adding to the political sparring, Ashwani Sharma, working president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Punjab, alleged that the AAP government was misusing official machinery to mobilise opposition against the Centre’s law. He claimed that MGNREGA workers were being misled and coerced into signing forms opposing the VB–G RAM G Act, and displayed a document which he said was being circulated through village-level officials to project resistance to the legislation.

Labour Concerns Raised Inside Assembly

Earlier in the day, Manwinder Singh Giaspura arrived at the Vidhan Sabha carrying petitions signed by labourers. He said the petitions reflected widespread anxiety among rural workers, who believe the employment guarantee framework has been weakened and fear for their livelihoods. The special session comes amid growing political friction between the Centre and Punjab over rural employment policy, with labour unions and opposition parties warning of serious socio-economic consequences if the existing MGNREGA framework is altered.