J&K Congress holds protest against G RAM G Act replacing MGNREGA
Condemn the BJP-led government’s move to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the Act
The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) held a protest on Sunday against the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The bill received presidential assent from President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday, effectively replacing MGNREGA with the new rural employment law.
Led by PCC president Tariq Hamid Karra, dozens of Congress workers condemned the BJP-led government’s move to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the Act. The protestors attempted to march towards Maulana Azad Road but were stopped by police and security forces before they could leave the party headquarters.
Amid heavy rain, Congress workers gathered at the Srinagar party office and began a peaceful march towards MA Road to protest against the Centre’s decision to replace MGNREGA. Karra strongly criticized the government, stating, “The Congress Party will not compromise on Mahatma Gandhi’s supreme sacrifices and the services he rendered to the nation. The BJP’s move to repeal MGNREGA is a conspiracy to erase Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy. Introducing a bill to remove MGNREGA means taking away the livelihood of the rural population. We will not accept this undemocratic and unethical move towards the poor,” Karra said.
A minor scuffle broke out between Congress activists and police during the protest demonstration in Jammu, which also focused on the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the Act and the repeal of MGNREGA.
In Jammu, the protest was led by AICC spokesperson Surinder Singh Rajput and JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla, with several former ministers, legislators, and senior Congress leaders participating.
Rajput launched a scathing attack on the central government, saying, “The Modi-led government has insulted Mahatma Gandhi. The ideology and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi are clearly not acceptable to the BJP and RSS.” He further stated that the new scheme would severely harm the economy of the poor and the labour class in rural areas.
