New Delhi, Jan 22: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday accused the government of attempting to erase Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy by repealing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and said the Congress will strongly take up the issue during Parliament’s upcoming Budget session.
Addressing the National MGNREGA Workers’ Convention organised by the Rachnatmak Congress, Kharge urged people to unite against what he termed an anti-poor move and vowed to oppose the new law both inside and outside Parliament. He alleged that the repeal of MGNREGA was aimed at weakening the principles of Gram Swaraj and diluting the rights of rural workers.
“In the Budget session, we will fight strongly for this issue,” Kharge said, criticising the government for dismantling a rights-based employment guarantee framework that, according to him, empowered rural India.
The convention saw participation from workers across the country, who brought soil from their respective work sites as a symbolic gesture. The soil was used to plant saplings in the presence of Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
As part of its protest, the Congress has launched a 45-day nationwide campaign titled ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’, beginning January 10. The party is demanding the withdrawal of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act and the restoration of MGNREGA in its original form as a rights based law guaranteeing employment and strengthening the role of panchayats.