‘Will resist this fiercely’: Congress announces nationwide movement against changes made to MGNREGA

New Delhi: The Congress on Saturday announced a nationwide agitation against the Centre’s proposed changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), framing the issue as a larger ideological battle over equity, federalism and Gandhian values.

Addressing the issue, AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the priorities of the BJP-led government and accused it of siding with the rich at the cost of the poor.

"Why has the Central government destroyed a scheme like MGNREGS? 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," Kharge said.

He alleged an ideological bias, adding, "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, calling it a grave 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," he said.

Declaring unanimous backing from the Congress Working Committee, Kharge said the party would launch a vigorous nationwide movement.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, echoing the sentiment, said MGNREGA was far more than an employment scheme.

"It is a revolutionary rights-based framework and development model that has earned global acclaim," he said.

Referring to Kharge’s international engagements, Rahul Gandhi added, "Kharge ji visited 16 countries, and every one praised the Congress government for pioneering this entirely new concept of development intertwined with rights."

He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of dismantling the programme unilaterally.

"Without consulting his cabinet or studying the issue," Gandhi said, likening the move to "demonetisation".

Describing the changes as a "multi-pronged assault", Gandhi said states were being stripped of funds and decision-making powers, rural infrastructure created under MGNREGA was being undermined, and labourers were losing the "guaranteed wage floor".

"This is a devastating blow to India's states and its poor," he said. "It will inflict immense suffering on the most vulnerable—Adivasis, Dalits, OBCs, poor general category families, and minorities - while fully benefiting select industrialists."

Alleging a deliberate transfer of resources, Gandhi said, "The intent is clear: snatch money from the poor and hand it to the preferred rich."

Highlighting MGNREGA’s role in grassroots democracy, he added that the scheme channelled funds directly to panchayats, strengthening decentralised governance.

"This is nothing less than an attack on our democratic structure, the third tier of government, and the foundational architecture of India," Gandhi said.

Vowing resistance, he concluded, "We will resist this fiercely. We will fight it on the streets, and I am confident the entire opposition will stand united against it."