Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the Union government for detaining National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) activists in Varanasi. She condemned the police action as “cowardly” and accused the government of using force against peaceful protesters. The NSUI members were demonstrating against the replacement of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the new Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act.
The protests, captured in a widely circulated video, depicted NSUI members peacefully demonstrating near statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Bhimrao Ambedkar in Varanasi. The video showed police dispersing the crowd and detaining several activists who were protesting against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling BJP-led government. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the government for depriving laborers of their employment rights and condemned the use of violence against those who resist.
Responding to the video, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated that the Congress Party stands against the injustice faced by laborers and vowed to fight for the rights of rural workers. The NSUI protest was part of the Congress’ broader campaign “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram.” Congress leaders, including Uttar Pradesh Congress Chief Ajay Rai, announced plans for more rallies in the state, with Rahul Gandhi expected to attend a major rally in Lucknow soon.
The Congress accused the government of dismantling a welfare scheme that has provided livelihood security to rural households since 2005. Security was heightened outside Prime Minister Modi’s office in Varanasi ahead of the protest. The new Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act has faced criticism for allegedly diluting statutory rights and reducing accountability.
The incident has fueled political debates on rural employment and welfare, with the Congress positioning itself as the defender of MGNREGA. The party accused the government of betraying the poorest sections of society by implementing the new scheme.
