New Delhi

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday strongly criticised the Modi government over its proposed repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), alleging that the Centre’s intentions mirror its earlier attempt to push through the now-withdrawn farm laws. He called on workers and marginalised communities to unite against what he described as an effort to dilute labour rights through a new employment framework.

Addressing the National MGNREGA Workers’ Convention organised by the Rachnatmak Congress, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said the original purpose of MGNREGA was to guarantee employment as a legal right for the poor. He asserted that the scheme was designed to empower workers by ensuring access to work through local self-governance institutions.

“The idea behind MGNREGA was simple but powerful — to provide employment to anyone who needs it,” Gandhi said. “It was a rights-based programme implemented through Panchayati Raj institutions. The emphasis on rights is crucial, and that is precisely what the Modi government wants to dismantle.”

Drawing parallels with the controversial farm laws repealed in 2021, Gandhi said the government had earlier attempted to impose policies that harmed farmers, only to withdraw them after sustained public resistance. “The same approach is now being used against workers,” he claimed, adding that unity among the poor and working class was essential to counter the move.

According to Gandhi, the proposed Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB-G RAM G Act would centralise decision-making related to employment works and fund allocation. He alleged that BJP-ruled states would receive preferential treatment, while the role of local bodies would be significantly weakened.

He further claimed that under the new framework, benefits meant for workers would increasingly flow to contractors and bureaucratic structures, eroding transparency and accountability. “Earlier, the money reached workers directly. Now, it will move upwards into the hands of intermediaries,” Gandhi alleged.

The Congress leader accused the BJP of promoting an economic model that concentrates assets among a few corporate entities. “They want an India where wealth is controlled by a handful of people, making the poor dependent on large corporate houses. This is their vision of the country,” he said, adding that such a system undermines democratic participation and economic equality.

At one point during his address, Gandhi remarked that he could not recall the exact name of the proposed law and asked members of the audience to remind him, drawing a response from workers attending the convention.

The event saw participation from workers across various states, many of whom brought a handful of soil from their work sites. The soil was symbolically placed in plant saplings in the presence of Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, representing labour, dignity and collective effort.

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Earlier this month, the Congress launched a 45-day nationwide campaign titled ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ to oppose the proposed repeal of the UPA-era employment guarantee law. The party is demanding the withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and the restoration of MGNREGA in its original rights-based form, including the statutory right to work and the authority of panchayats in planning and implementation.