Congress calls protest to resist MGNREGA changes

Framing the MGNREGA changes as an ideological battle over equity, federalism, and Gandhian values, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday announced a nationwide movement to resist the changes.

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Kharge set the tone for the agitation by questioning the government's priorities: "Why has the Central government destroyed a scheme like MGNREGA? You have endless money for the rich who loot banks through massive loans - but no courage to give even 30 per cent to labourers? This shows they stand only with the rich, never with the poor."

He accused the BJP of ideological bias, saying, "Those who side with the rich will never support the poor. That's why we are fighting for the rights of the impoverished, and we will keep fighting."

Kharge also condemned the reported removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme as a profound insult.

"Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh transformed it into a rights-based law. Now, they are merely changing the name but it's not just about the name. They cannot even tolerate Mahatma Gandhi's name because his full name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. This is an attack on Gandhi ji himself, on the Father of the Nation."

Declaring unanimous support from the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Kharge pledged a vigorous nationwide agitation.