Rahul Gandhi: Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, has attacked the Narendra Modi government on dismantling the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in a move he believes is as bad as demonetization.
What Did Rahul Gandhi Said?
Addressing a press conference, Rahul said the decision of Bhartiya Janta Party to replace MGNREGA was taken without any study, cabinet approval or consultation. He called the new bill a direct assault on the country’s poor and the federal structure of India.
Rahul Gandhi under whose leadership the Congress Party has lost a staggering 95 elections said the Congress and entire opposition would stand united against the new bill.
Rahul said the Congress will launch a nationwide campaign called ‘MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan’ from January 5 onwards. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge echoed Rahul’s words and said the government would be forced to roll back the new bill just like the three farm laws that were repealed after nationwide protests. Kharge went on to add that the new bill is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation.
Kharge went on to call the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as a “well-planned conspiracy” between the Election Commission and the BJP to weaken democratic rights.
What is VB-G RAM G Act?
The Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act 2025 (VB–G RAM G Act) replaced MGNREGA. It was passed in both houses of the Indian Parliament and later the President approved it.
The new bill provides for 125 days of wage employment for workers of rural India instead of 100 days of MGNREGA.
