New Delhi, Dec 16 (UNI) The Congress Tuesday called for a massive nationwide agitation on Wednesday, December 17, to protest the union Government’s move to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The party has also announced a village-level campaign on its Foundation Day, December 28, to “defend the legacy of Bapu” and protect the rights of rural laborers.
The escalation comes after the government introduced the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, in Parliament today.
While the government claims the new bill strengthens the rural safety net by increasing guaranteed work to 125 days, the Opposition views it as a calculated attempt to dismantle a demand-driven right and centralize control.
Congress General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal, took to social media to signal the party’s intent to lead a “people’s movement” against the legislation. He described MGNREGA as a historic achievement of the UPA government that provided a lifeline to millions during crises like the pandemic.
“To fight against the Government’s plan to kill MGNREGA, the Congress Party will hold nationwide protests tomorrow at all District Headquarters,” Venugopal stated. “Our struggle is not about opposing any ordinary Bill; it is about defending a hard-won right and standing with millions whose survival, dignity, and hope depend on MGNREGA.”
The party plans to turn its 141st Foundation Day on December 28 into a symbolic tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. Congress workers have been directed to organize programs in every mandal and village, holding portraits of Gandhi to highlight what they call a “direct attack on Bapu’s legacy” by removing his name from the scheme.
The new bill proposed by the NDA government introduces several radical shifts from the 2005 Act:
Funding Shift: It moves from a fully centrally-funded wage model to a 60:40 cost-sharing ratio with states (90:10 for Himalayan and NE states).
The “Agricultural Pause”: It allows for a 60-day freeze on public works during peak sowing and harvesting seasons to ensure labor availability for farmers—a move the Congress claims will deny workers their legal right to employment when they need it most.
Centralized Budgeting: The “demand-driven” nature is replaced by “normative allocations” determined by the Centre.
“Erasing Gandhi from Rural India”
Earlier in the day, Priyanka Gandhi and other senior leaders criticized the “obsession” with renaming schemes. She argued that the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name is not merely cosmetic but symbolic of a deeper intent to weaken the legal entitlement to work.
Taking to social media platform X, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister has a “deep dislike” for the rights of the poor. He characterized MGNREGA as the “living embodiment” of Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj (village self-rule), which served as a vital safety net during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For the past ten years, his government has systematically tried to weaken it. Today, he is determined to erase MGNREGA altogether,” Rahul Gandhi stated.
Opposition allies, including the TMC and DMK, have joined the chorus, accusing the government of placing an undue financial burden on states already struggling with fiscal deficits.
The government, however, maintains that the new framework is a modern update aligned with “Viksit Bharat 2047” that focuses on creating durable rural assets like water security and climate-resilient infrastructure.
As the Winter Session heats up, the battleground now shifts from the floor of the House to the streets, with the Congress vowing to keep the issue alive until the bill is sent for committee scrutiny.
