The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly criticized the Tamil Nadu Assembly for passing a resolution urging the Union government to uphold the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi questioned the constitutional validity of the Assembly’s action, stating that it goes against an Act approved by Parliament. Trivedi raised concerns about the Assembly’s authority to challenge a law passed by the national legislature.
He further questioned whether local bodies could defy laws enacted by state legislatures, drawing parallels to the situation. Trivedi also directed his criticism towards Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Opposition of selectively invoking constitutional values. He highlighted the importance of laws passed by Parliament being binding on all citizens, emphasizing the need to uphold constitutional principles.
The resolution, put forth by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and endorsed by the Assembly, emphasized the need for the Centre to ensure allocations under MGNREGA at previous levels. It also called for continued support for vulnerable groups like women, persons with disabilities, and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The resolution opposed the Centre’s proposed discretionary fund allocation method and urged a return to the previous system based on actual employment demand.
