The Congress on Saturday announced a nationwide, three-phase campaign titled “MNREGA Bachao Sangram”, opposing the Centre’s newly enacted Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Congress General Secretaries KC Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh accused the Union government of weakening the employment guarantee programme. They alleged that the Centre aims to centralise MNREGA and undermine Panchayati Raj institutions.
Venugopal said the Congress Working Committee approved a structured nationwide agitation. He explained that Phase One will begin on January 8 with preparatory meetings at Pradesh Congress Committee offices. District-level press conferences will follow on January 10. On January 11, Congress workers will hold a one-day fast at district headquarters near statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr BR Ambedkar.
Meanwhile, Phase Two will run from January 12 to January 30. During this period, the party will organise panchayat-level chaupals across villages. Congress leaders will also distribute pamphlets and deliver letters from the party president. On Martyrs’ Day, January 30, the party will hold peaceful sit-ins with MNREGA workers at the ward level.
Furthermore, Phase Three will begin on January 31 with district-level dharnas outside DC and DM offices till February 6. This will be followed by state-level gheraos of Vidhan Sabha buildings from February 7 to February 15. Four zonal AICC rallies will take place between February 16 and February 25.
Jairam Ramesh said the Congress would challenge the new law in court. He described the campaign as a struggle to protect the rights-based framework of MNREGA.
Venugopal also condemned the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme. He said Gandhi symbolised the dignity of labour and village self-rule.
The Congress demanded immediate withdrawal of the VB-GRAM-G Act. It also called for restoring MNREGA in its original form to protect the rural poor, women workers, Dalits, and Adivasis.
