Poor must unite to restore MGNREGA: Rahul Gandhi cites success of farmers’ agitation

Intensifying the Congress’ attack on the government over the new VB-G RAM G Act, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the effective scrapping of MGNREGA amounted to an attack on the Constitution, drawing parallels with demonetisation, the implementation of the GST and the three farm laws that were later repealed.

Citing the farmers’ agitation, Gandhi called for unity among the poor and marginalised. He said the repeal of the three farm laws had shown that united resistance could force the government to reverse its decisions, and asserted that MGNREGA would also be restored through sustained pressure and collective resistance.

He made the above remarks as the party vowed to take its fight to the finish for the restoration of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), and held a national convention of MGNREGA workers at Jawahar Bhawan in the national capital.

Around 300 to 400 workers and activists from 20 to 25 states attended the convention, which was organised by the Rachnatmak Congress, headed by former Delhi Congress chief Sandeep Dikshit.

Addressing the gathering, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the struggle to revive MGNREGA would be long and require consistency. He said a rights-based law could not be restored through protests alone, but through a continuous political struggle.

He accused the Modi government of dismantling a scheme that provided support to the poor, Dalits and the marginalised communities, and said the move struck at the idea of gram swaraj.

Kharge said the BJP had taken the unprecedented step of weakening a national programme named after Mahatma Gandhi.

Meanwhile, the LoP said, “MGNREGA was built on the principle of dignity of labour and guaranteed the right to work to anyone in need. It strengthened the Panchayati Raj institutions by allowing local bodies to decide the nature of work, ensuring people’s participation and accountability. This decentralised structure is being dismantled through a new approach that concentrates power in the hands of the Centre.”

According to him, the new framework allows the Centre to decide where funds would be allocated, benefiting BJP-ruled states, while disadvantaging Opposition-ruled ones. He alleged that the government’s latest move weakened federalism and democracy.

Earlier, Rachnatmak Congress chairman Sandeep Dikshit assured MGNREGA workers of the Congress party’s full support, saying the party would stand with them wherever the struggle unfolded.

The convention opened with a song invoking justice. As a symbolic gesture, workers brought soil from their MGNREGA worksites, which was gathered together to convey unity and collective resolve.

Senior Congress leaders including KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Charanjit Singh Channi and Udit Raj were also present. Party leaders Sashikant Senthil, Saptagiri Ulaka and K Raju also shared their views on the implications of the new law and the road ahead.