CHENNAI: The ruling DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance has called for a statewide protest on December 24 against the Union government’s proposed Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, which seeks to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

In a statement issued on Friday, the alliance alleged that the Union government was attempting to dismantle the employment guarantee programme and wipe out the livelihoods of rural people. It accused the Centre of deceiving the people of Tamil Nadu and criticised the AIADMK for supporting the proposed legislation.

“The Secular Progressive Alliance will organise protests against the Union government for betraying the people of Tamil Nadu. The stir will also be against the AIADMK for backing such a betrayal. The agitation will be held across the State, including in Chennai, on December 24 at 10 am. Party cadre and beneficiaries of the employment guarantee scheme will participate in the protest,” the statement said.

The call for protests comes a day after Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cautioning that the proposed Bill would jeopardise the livelihoods of crores of rural poor, particularly in states such as Tamil Nadu. In his letter, Stalin also warned that the move could strain Union-State relations by shifting a greater financial burden on states and diluting the legal safeguards provided under the existing employment guarantee law.