The Congress on Sunday intensified its attack on the Vikas Bharat-Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) (VB-G-RAM G) recently implemented by the Central government. Senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has deliberately dropped the name of Mahatma Gandhi to weaken rural development.
Speaking to the media in Prayagraj, Tiwari said that this issue is not just about changing the name of a scheme, but about erasing Gandhiji’s legacy. He alleged, “It would have been fine if they had changed the name of the scheme to Ram, but they only wanted to remove Gandhiji’s name. Godse had killed Gandhiji by firing three bullets, but the present BJP has killed Gandhiji again by amending the law and with the power of majority.” Tiwari further claimed that the move “will stall rural development” and called the removal of Gandhiji’s name from MGNREGA “unfortunate”.
The comments came amid demonstrations by Congress workers across Uttar Pradesh against the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and the implementation of the VB-G Ram Ji scheme in its place. On Sunday, Congress workers protested under the banner of ‘Save MGNREGA Sangram’ at Townhall Park in Varanasi.
Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai along with party workers observed a symbolic fast near the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. “We are on a fast. We are fasting around the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Bhimrao Ambedkar. This government has abolished the MGNREGA law, and all our Congress workers are sitting on the streets in protest against it,” Rai told ANI. He further said that the party wants to remove those who want to erase the name of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Congress leader also outlined the party’s future action plan, saying rallies will be held across Uttar Pradesh, culminating with a big rally in Lucknow, which will be attended by Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and other national leaders. Earlier, on January 3, the Congress had announced a nationwide three-phase agitation titled ‘Save MGNREGA’ to protest against the implementation of the VB-J Ram Ji Act. President Draupadi Murmu recently assent to the VB-G Ram Ji Bill, 2025, which is a major change in the Centre’s rural employment policy.
