Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi recently launched a scathing attack on the Central government in an article in a leading English daily, accusing it of destroying the rights-based legislative framework through proposed changes in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and other important laws.
In an article titled ‘Bulldozer’s demolition of MGNREGA’, Sonia Gandhi argued that the weakening of the rural employment scheme represents a collective moral failure, which will have long-term financial and humanitarian consequences for millions of workers across the country.
He wrote that MNREGA is not just a welfare initiative but a rights-based program that provides livelihood security and dignity to rural families.
According to him, the collapse of this plan is a “collective moral failure”.
He wrote, “MGNREGA realizes Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of sarvodaya (welfare for all) and implements the constitutional right to work. The end result is our collective moral failure, the financial and human consequences of which will remain grave for millions of working people of India for years to come. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we stand united and defend the rights that protect us all.”
Sonia Gandhi further claimed that many fundamental rights are being systematically violated.
Expressing concern over the education policy, he said, “The National Education Policy 2020 has weakened the right to education, which has legitimized the closure of nearly one lakh primary schools across the country.”
He also pointed to changes in environment and land laws and said that “the Forest Rights Act, 2006 has been significantly weakened by the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, which has deprived the Gram Sabha of any role in allowing diversion of forest land.”
Sonia Gandhi further said that “the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act has been weakened to a great extent,” while also claiming that the National Green Tribunal has been “weakened” over the years.
Referring to agricultural reforms, he said, “The government has attempted to deprive farmers of their right to minimum support price through three black farm laws,” and warned that “the National Food Security Act, 2013, could be the next target.”