The Congress on Saturday launched a sharp political offensive against the Centre over the replacement of the MGNREGA law, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge announcing a countrywide agitation to defend what he called a constitutional right of rural workers.
Speaking to the media after a crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Kharge accused the Union government of pushing the VB-G RAM G Act without dialogue, warning that the move would financially burden states and severely impact the rural poor. He alleged that the legislation reflects a unilateral approach that sidelines both states and Parliament.
Kharge said the CWC unanimously resolved to take the fight beyond legislative corridors and into public spaces. He announced that the Congress will launch a nationwide “Save MNREGA” campaign starting January 5, positioning the rural employment scheme as the core issue of mass mobilisation.
According to Kharge, MNREGA is not merely a welfare programme but a legally guaranteed right to work rooted in constitutional values. He asserted that the party has taken a collective oath to resist any attempt to dilute workers’ rights or erase Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy from the scheme.
The Congress president claimed that public anger is growing over the scrapping of MGNREGA and warned that the government would face political consequences for what he described as an anti-poor decision. He compared the repeal to earlier controversial policy moves that were eventually rolled back after sustained public pressure.
Kharge also linked the issue to broader concerns about democracy, alleging that recent developments—including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls—form part of a larger design to weaken democratic participation. He termed SIR a “calculated exercise” aimed at restricting citizens’ voting rights.
Raising concerns beyond domestic policy, Kharge condemned reported attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, stating that the situation has worried the entire country. He also alleged that recent disruptions during Christmas celebrations by groups linked to the BJP and RSS have harmed India’s social harmony and international image.
