The Congress has initiated the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ in 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, criticizing the government for undermining the UPA-era rural job schemes. Jairam Ramesh, a Rajya Sabha MP and Congress General Secretary Communications In-charge, condemned the government for its actions against the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a crucial support system for millions in India. He urged the public to support the Congress’ protest against the replacement of MGNREGA with the Viksit Bharat — Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act.
The Congress campaign aims to restore the constitutional rights to work, wages, and accountability. The party’s leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, are mobilizing public support to pressure the government to reconsider its decision, similar to the successful pushback against the farm laws. Rahul Gandhi criticized the rushed passage of the VB-G RAM G Act, emphasizing the importance of MGNREGA as a successful poverty alleviation program. He pledged to defend the rural poor against the government’s attempts to dismantle this vital support system.
Rahul Gandhi raised concerns about the swift approval of the VB-G RAM G Bill in Parliament, accusing the government of erasing two decades of progress in a single day. He questioned the new scheme’s impact on states and villages, highlighting its potential negative consequences. The Congress is committed to supporting workers, panchayats, and states in opposing this legislation and is working to build a nationwide coalition to demand its withdrawal.
