‘PM Modi Hates Gandhi’s Ideas’: Rahul Gandhi on Proposed MGNREGA Replacement
Congress leader accuses Centre of insulting Gandhi's legacy.
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi sharply criticized the Central government on Tuesday for its proposed legislation to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), describing the move as a direct affront to the principles espoused by Mahatma Gandhi. The government intends to introduce the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, aimed at replacing the existing rural employment scheme.
In a detailed post on X, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi harbors a profound aversion to both Mahatma Gandhi's ideals and the rights of the impoverished. He emphasized that MGNREGA represents the embodiment of Gandhi's vision of Gram Swaraj, serving as a vital lifeline for millions in rural India and functioning as an essential economic safeguard during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gandhi accused the NDA government of systematically undermining the scheme over the past decade, claiming that the Prime Minister has long been discomforted by its existence. He alleged that the new bill seeks to centralize control, imposing dictated budgets and rules from the Centre, shifting 40 percent of costs to states, and potentially leaving workers without employment once funds are depleted or during harvesting periods.
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The proposed overhaul has sparked significant opposition, with Gandhi warning that it threatens the secure livelihoods of poor rural families amid prevailing unemployment challenges. He portrayed the legislation as an extension of policies detrimental to India's youth and rural populace.
Declaring firm resistance, Rahul Gandhi vowed that the Opposition would protest the bill vigorously, from public demonstrations to parliamentary proceedings, framing it as an anti-people measure that dishonors Mahatma Gandhi's enduring legacy.
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