In Parliament today, the Lok Sabha witnessed protests and adjournments over the alleged non-release of funds related to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA).

During Question Hour, members from Congress, DMK, TMC, and other opposition parties created a ruckus over the release of dues for Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and other opposition-ruled states.

Replying to supplementary questions, Minister of State for Rural Development Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani highlighted the alleged diversion of MGNREGA funds and irregularities in the scheme’s implementation in West Bengal. He also provided details of the funds released to various states. Addressing a question on MGNREGA dues for Tamil Nadu, the Minister noted that there is a provision for paying interest in case of delayed payments and stated that over seven thousand 300 crore has already been disbursed to the state.

Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan asserted that the Centre is committed to paying pending wages to labourers. He emphasized that the government does not discriminate among states and urged the Tamil Nadu and West Bengal governments to submit compliance reports for the release of funds.

However, opposition members, dissatisfied with the Minister’s response, created an uproar in the House. Speaker Om Birla remarked that pushing the agenda of specific states and disrupting proceedings in the Lok Sabha was not appropriate.