Shivraj Singh Chouhan Criticizes Opposition in Rajya Sabha Over Rural Employment Schemes

In a recent Rajya Sabha session, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched a scathing attack on the opposition, accusing them of trivializing rural employment schemes and ignoring the benefits provided to the poor under the Modi government. He defended the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act against criticism, asserting that it was initially launched without Gandhi's name. Chouhan also highlighted the need for honoring national leaders through scheme names and discussed the government's financial allocations for rural development. His remarks emphasized the strengthening economic conditions of the country and the rightful distribution of funds to states.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 17, 2026, 19:48 IST

Chouhan's Strong Remarks Against Opposition

In a recent session of the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, launched a fierce critique against the opposition. He accused them of engaging in petty politics by changing the names of rural employment schemes and overlooking the genuine benefits these programs provide to impoverished individuals under the Modi administration. Responding to criticisms regarding amendments to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (originally known as NREGA), Chouhan pointed out that the initiative was initially launched without Gandhi's name, which was later added by the Congress-led UPA government for political gain.

Discussion on Naming of Schemes

Chouhan highlighted that numerous schemes are named after former Prime Ministers from the Gandhi family, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, suggesting that this practice promotes a singular family image. When Congress MP Pramod Tiwari attempted to counter this by referencing the naming of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju intervened, clarifying that the naming was done by a private entity, not through government funding.

Funding for Rural Development

The debate intensified as Chouhan raised concerns regarding the funds allocated by the Rural Development Ministry for West Bengal. In response, Trinamool Congress MP Sukendu Shekhar Roy questioned whether the Supreme Court had instructed the central government to release pending funds to the state. Defending key initiatives, Chouhan praised the Ayushman Bharat scheme for providing healthcare to low-income families and sarcastically asked Congress about their efforts in alleviating poverty, accusing them of focusing solely on vote bank politics.

Honoring National Leaders

Chouhan expressed his respect for great leaders and questioned how many schemes Congress has named after prominent figures such as Subhas Chandra Bose, Rani Lakshmibai, Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who united the nation. He mentioned that over ₹95,000 crores have been allocated in the budget for the V.B. G. Ramji scheme, with state governments also making provisions in their budgets.

Economic Strengthening

Chouhan asserted that the country's economic condition is steadily improving, with both the central and state governments becoming financially robust. He noted that states are receiving their rightful shares from the center, citing specific budget allocations for the V.B. G. Ramji scheme: ₹1,986 crores for Jharkhand, ₹610.4 crores for Punjab, ₹216 crores for Jammu and Kashmir, and ₹143 crores for Himachal Pradesh, highlighting that these are states where his party does not govern.