New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government at a “Save MGNREGA Front” rally in the national capital, accusing it of weakening the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and undermining the rights of rural workers.
In a symbolic gesture, both leaders appeared dressed like laborers, with towels wrapped around their heads and shovels on their shoulders, to underline their solidarity with rural workers. Addressing a public gathering, they described MGNREGA as the “lifeline of rural India” and vowed to resist any attempt to dilute or dismantle the scheme.
Rahul Gandhi said MGNREGA represents the soul of village-based India and provides dignity and security to millions of rural households.
“Protecting MGNREGA is a collective responsibility. Every Congress worker is ready to fight to safeguard it,” he said, adding that the party would raise the issue during the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament starting January 28.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge accused the Modi government of conspiring to turn the poor into “bonded laborers” by weakening the employment guarantee program. He alleged that diluting MGNREGA would push marginalized communities into exploitative labor under wealthy interests.
“MGNREGA guarantees 100 days of legal employment. Destroying this right is an attack on the poor and the oppressed,” Kharge said.
Kharge further stated that any attempt to weaken or erase MGNREGA is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi and an assault on the idea of ‘Gram Swaraj’ (village self-rule). He warned that the country would not tolerate efforts to remove Gandhi’s legacy from public welfare schemes.
The Congress announced nationwide protests and movements to defend MGNREGA, calling it a larger battle to protect workers’ rights and social justice.