DMK claims 'G Ram G' scheme itself may be scrapped any time by citing 'some data'
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK on Saturday hit out at the BJP-led Centre over the new VB-G RAM G Bill and said removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name alone was not the issue.
The new Bill has no guarantee for work for a total of 125 days and it has all features to facilitate halting the scheme itself at any time.
DMK mouthpiece 'Murasoli' said removal of Gandhi's name for the job guarantee scheme alone was not the issue; but the very objective of that scheme has been defeated and this was the core issue.
In the overall matter of deletion of Gandhi's name, other issues have been buried. Dropping Gandhiji's name was not going to affect his image in any manner and the removal of his name has only made people remember and talk about him more and more, Murasoli said in its editorial of December 20, 2025.
ALSO READ: PM arrives in Kolkata to unveil projects, address rally in Bengal''s Nadia
The ruling party listed 10 reasons for opposing the "G Ram G" rural employment guarantee Bill and rejected that name as pretty difficult to even pronounce.
The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB-G RAM G Bill, assuring 125 days of guaranteed jobs for rural India, has been adopted by both Houses of the Parliament.
The DMK said the cost-sharing ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and states is "loot" of state's funds. "Though they claim providing work for 125 days, it will not happen for sure."
The Dravidian Tamil daily cited the provision tasking the state governments to notify in advance, a period aggregating to sixty days in a financial year, covering the peak agricultural seasons of sowing and harvesting. During this period, works under the VB-G RAM G Act shall not be undertaken and this feature will affect those not involved in farm work. Also, the beneficiaries are set to be enlisted using the Centre's Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) and this will directly affect states like Tamil Nadu that are fighting to eliminate poverty.
The new scheme itself could be "stopped" by claiming that poverty has been eliminated by citing "some data". As per the previous law, getting job was the people's right and now, as per the new Bill, jobs will be provided if available.
The new initiative goes against federalism, state autonomy as a provision enables the Centre to decide jobs for each state. Such a clause would lead the way for "betraying" non-BJP ruled states. Unlike the previous legislation, there is no scope for providing compensation if work could not be provided. There is no guarantee that that jobs would be provided for 125 days. "This new Bill has all features to facilitate halting the scheme at any time."
Targeting AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, the DMK daily hit out at him for merely issuing a statement to reinstate the Father of the Nation's name for the employment guarantee scheme. "Does Palaniswami accept all other changes to the scheme?
Further, the DMK daily alleged that Palaniswami was repeating his gimmick of deceiving the people, which the nation witnessed in the issues of CAA, and the 3 farms laws (repealed later). The former CM had said that the minorities will not be affected by the CAA and that the farmers will actually be benefited by the farm laws.
Parliament on Thursday passed the VB-G RAM G Bill, that seeks to replace the 20-year-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and guarantee 125 days of rural wage employment every year.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
===================
The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
