Rahul Gandhi defends MGNREGA against G RAM G bill, says its is direct insult to Mahatma Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi strongly criticized the Central government's plan to repeal the existing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). He stated that introducing a new bill to replace the scheme, which guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households annually, is a "direct insult to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi." The government plans to introduce the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, a move that has already sparked widespread opposition.

Rahul Gandhi firmly defended MGNREGA, calling it the "living embodiment of Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj." He highlighted the scheme's vital role as a lifeline for millions of rural Indians and stressed its importance as a "crucial economic safety net" during the severe Covid-19 pandemic. According to him, the scheme's enduring success has always "unsettled" Prime Minister Modi and his government.

The Congress leader further alleged that the NDA government has been "systematically" trying to weaken MGNREGA for the past ten years through various means. He concluded his sharp criticism by claiming that the government is now determined to "erase MGNREGA altogether" by replacing it with the new legislation. This statement sets the stage for a major political confrontation between the government and the Opposition over the crucial rural employment guarantee program.