New Delhi

Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday accused Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi of spreading false information about the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) scheme, asserting that the new legislation would reinforce, not dilute, the Right to Work.

Speaking at a press briefing, Chouhan criticised the Congress’ nationwide campaign opposing the new Act, which is set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. He said the opposition party was falsely claiming that employment under the proposed scheme would be restricted to select panchayats.

The Congress began its 45-day nationwide agitation, titled ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’, on January 10 to protest the repeal of the UPA-era employment guarantee law. The party has demanded that the VB-G RAM G Act be withdrawn and that MGNREGA be restored in its original rights-based form, including the authority of panchayats and the guaranteed right to work.

Responding to the campaign, Chouhan said that spreading misinformation about the new scheme would only harm the Congress politically.

“I want to tell Rahul Gandhi ji and Mallikarjun Kharge ji that by propagating incorrect claims about VB-G RAM G, they are weakening their own party rather than strengthening it,” the minister said.

He accused the Congress of abandoning its core principles and said the government’s focus was on national development and village-centric growth. “VB-G RAM G is aimed at the holistic development of rural India,” he said.

Chouhan said the Centre had attempted to improve upon MGNREGA, citing expenditure figures to support his argument. He claimed that the present government had spent nearly Rs 9 lakh crore on the scheme, compared to around Rs 2 lakh crore during the UPA’s tenure.

Rejecting allegations that the Right to Work was being taken away, the minister said such claims were untrue. He said the new scheme would increase guaranteed employment from 100 days to 125 days and also introduce a provision for payment of unemployment allowance within 15 days.

“You gave people rights on paper. We have strengthened those rights on the ground,” he said.

Chouhan also dismissed claims that employment would be limited to certain panchayats, clarifying that the scheme would cover all panchayats across the country.

He further said the new Act would not place any additional financial burden on states, as the Centre was already providing increased funding. Any contribution by states, he added, would go towards strengthening rural infrastructure.

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The minister said VB-G RAM G would be rolled out within six months and that MGNREGA would continue to operate until the new scheme comes into force.