Congress leader and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Saturday, 27 June levelled sharp questions at the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab over its decision to notify and implement the Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), commonly referred to as the VB-G RAM G scheme, from 1 July — a Central rural employment initiative that the Punjab Assembly had unanimously rejected just months earlier.

The Core Contradiction

At the heart of Warring's attack is a direct contradiction: the Punjab government itself convened a special session of the Vidhan Sabha on 30 December 2025 and passed a unanimous resolution rejecting the VB-G RAM G scheme. Yet on Friday, the same government formally notified the scheme's implementation, effectively nullifying its own legislative resolution. Warring described this as a betrayal of the Assembly's collective stand.

'What is the deal?' Warring asked pointedly, insinuating that the Mann government may have entered into some understanding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre to push through a scheme the state had publicly and unanimously opposed.

Congress Demands Answers From Kejriwal

Warring did not limit his questions to the Punjab government alone. He directly challenged AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal to clarify his position on the decision. 'Kejriwal must break his silence and clarify his position,' Warring said, warning that continued silence would reinforce the perception that 'AAP actually has struck some opportunistic deal with the BJP.'

He also raised the question of timing, suggesting that the sudden reversal may be linked to the ongoing political controversies surrounding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. 'Having been cornered both within and outside his party, is the Chief Minister trying to buy peace with the BJP?' he asked.

What the VB-G RAM G Scheme Is

The VB-G RAM G scheme is a Centre-backed rural livelihood and employment programme under the broader Viksit Bharat initiative. Punjab's decision to implement it from 1 July brings the state in line with the Centre's framework — a move that carries political weight given the AAP's positioning as a counterweight to BJP governance at the national level.

BJP's Earlier Criticism of Punjab's Rejection

The backdrop includes a sharp rebuke from Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who had previously described the Punjab Assembly's decision to reject the scheme as 'undemocratic' and contrary to the basic spirit of the Constitution. Chouhan had argued that the refusal reflected 'blind opposition' politics rather than genuine concern for rural welfare.

What Comes Next

With the scheme set to take effect from 1 July, attention will now shift to whether the AAP government offers any formal explanation for reversing its legislative position. The Congress is likely to escalate its campaign, and pressure on Kejriwal to respond publicly is expected to mount. The episode adds a new dimension to the already fraught relationship between the AAP and Congress in Punjab ahead of the next state electoral cycle.