Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday accused the central government of trying to weaken the right to work by trying to tamper with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and said the party will take to the streets in protest across the country.
The senior Congress leader stressed that the issue is more than just a name changing exercise and there will be a movement against it.
Speaking to reporters, Kharge said, “It is not about changing the name of MNREGA, it is about the right to work. They are taking away our very right. They are taking away the rights of the people. This is a big issue, and it is very difficult for the poor.”
The Congress president said the party would launch a nationwide movement against the attack on the rights of the poor. He further said, “Therefore, we will fight for this till the end. We will take to the streets and there will be agitation in every district of every state.”
Congress leader Digvijay Singh said, “This is a decision born out of inferiority complex. It is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi.”
Congress leaders and several opposition MPs protested from the Gandhi statue to Makar Dwar in the Parliament complex on Thursday. This demonstration was in protest against changing the name of MNREGA to VBC Ram Ji. The MPs marched carrying posters with the slogan “Mahatma Gandhi ka apaashman darda nahi karenge” (Will not tolerate insult to Mahatma Gandhi).
Opposition MPs also raised the issue of atrocities against minorities and protested in the Parliament complex.
There was almost 14-hour debate on the Developed India-Gramji (Rural Employment and Livelihood Mission) Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with the opposition demanding sending the proposed bill to the standing committee, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly defended the bill, calling it a decisive step towards achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047.
Many Congress MPs strongly opposed the renaming of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and change in its funding pattern.
Congress MP K. Suresh urged the House to refer the bill to a standing committee, calling it “important” and requiring thorough scrutiny. He said the duration and intensity of the debate itself underlines the importance of this bill.
Suresh said, “This is an important bill, that is why the House has discussed it for so long. More than 98 members from both sides participated in this debate. The opposition party strongly opposes this bill. The India Alliance has demanded that this bill be sent to the standing committee.”
Congress MP Vamsi Krishna Gaddam said the government’s intentions were becoming clear through what he termed “unnecessary decisions”.
He said, “Except BJP, we all in the country love Mahatma Gandhi. It is sad to know that Mahatma Gandhi’s name is being removed from this scheme and instead of 100 per cent central fund as before, now 40 per cent fund will be given by the state government.” He alleged that the ideology of BJP and RSS is against public interest.
Congress MP Praniti Shinde accused the government of passing the bill in a hurry.
“The discussion is still going on and the time for discussion has also been extended. Perhaps they want to pass this bill quickly. Congress strongly opposes the name change. They want to erase Mahatma Gandhi’s name and rewrite the history of the country. This bill has been weakened,” he said.