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Congress’ fight for MGNREGA constitutional, RSS & BJP erasing Gandhi’s ideology: Rahul Gandhi

The Congress leader accuses PM Modi of seeking to centralise power and weakening welfare safeguards for the poor

2 min readLucknowJan 21, 2026 06:14 AM IST

Cong’s NREGA fight constitutional, RSS & BJP erasing Gandhi ideology, says Rahul

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Raebareli on Tuesday. (PTI)

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Raebareli MP Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that the Congress’ fight for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme was “constitutional” and that the BJP and the RSS were erasing the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar.

Addressing a ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram Chaupal’ on the first day of his two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency Raebareli, the Congress leader said the name change of MGNREGA (renamed as VG-G RAM G) is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi.

“The main issue is not just about name change but also the fact the protection provided to the poor has been done away with. They (BJP and RSS) are trying to benefit only a select few industrialists. The Congress is holding protests across the country to save MGNREGA and will stand for the deprived and the poor,” he said.

He accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of seeking to centralise power and weakening welfare safeguards for the poor. He alleged that Modi and the RSS want India to return to the pre-Independence situation, where people’s land could be taken away and handed over to the rich.

During the programme, attended by labourers and villagers, the Congress leader said that under the new employment guarantee scheme (VG-G RAM G), the Central government has got rid of its responsibility to provide work to the poor and it will be the states which will have to contribute 40 per cent to the total wages under the scheme.

Also, the BJP-ruled states would not provide funds for the scheme, he claimed.

The scheme should not be run from offices in Delhi, Lucknow or by officials, but should be implemented at the panchayat level, with clear accountability of village heads, he said. “Financial decisions related to the MGNREGA should rest with pradhans,” he added.

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The Congress leader also met office-bearers and workers of the party. Earlier in the day, he also inaugurated a cricket match in the constituency.

He will be interacting with party leaders on Wednesday before returning to Delhi.

The Congress launched the nationwide”MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” on January 10 and will run it till February 25.

— PTI inputs

Maulshree Seth

Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More

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