The Congress in Kerala has escalated its criticism of the BJP-led Union government regarding alterations to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). They are urging the Kerala Assembly to pass a resolution for the scheme’s restoration in its original form. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, at a protest, called for actions similar to those taken by Telangana and Karnataka assemblies.
Venugopal criticized the Modi government for what he sees as damaging changes to the employment guarantee program. He accused the amendments of transferring financial burdens to states, centralizing decision-making, and imposing biometric conditions to exclude workers. Venugopal also questioned Chief Minister Vijayan’s stance on the issue, alleging a lack of consultation with allies.
The Congress leaders emphasized the need for public mobilization to pressure the Centre into retracting the MGNREGS amendments. They condemned the renaming of the scheme as an attack on Gandhian principles and part of a broader agenda. KPCC President Sunny Joseph accused the BJP of stifling a poverty-alleviation scheme and vowed that public resistance would ensure the scheme’s full restoration.
