Senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram has launched a scathing attack on the central government, accusing it of delivering a 'second killing' of Mahatma Gandhi. His sharp criticism comes in response to the recent decision to remove Mahatma Gandhi's name from the flagship rural jobs scheme, now known simply as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).
A 'Second Killing' and a Fundamental Shift
Chidambaram made these pointed remarks on December 21, 2025. He argued that stripping the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) of Gandhi's name is not merely a symbolic act but a substantive betrayal of its core principles. The veteran politician stated that this move, coupled with other changes implemented by the Centre, has effectively converted a 'demand-driven entitlement into a discretionary scheme'.
This fundamental shift, according to Chidambaram, undermines the very legal guarantee of work that was the bedrock of the original legislation. The scheme, once a right-based assurance for the rural poor, now risks becoming a program subject to the whims and budgetary allocations of the government, he contended.
Depriving the Rural Poor of Guaranteed Work
The core of Chidambaram's argument centers on the practical impact on India's rural population. He asserted that the alterations in the scheme's framework and implementation are depriving the rural poor of guaranteed employment. The MGNREGA was historically designed as a safety net, where any adult willing to do unskilled manual work could demand it from the government.
By making it more 'discretionary,' Chidambaram fears that this critical lifeline for millions during agricultural off-seasons and times of distress is being severely weakened. The move away from a demand-driven model could lead to arbitrary limitations on work days, delays in wage payments, and reduced accessibility, hitting the most vulnerable sections of society the hardest.
Political and Ideological Battle Lines
The renaming and alleged restructuring of MGNREGA have ignited a fresh political firestorm. The Congress party, which originally launched the scheme in 2006, views this as an attempt to erase a key part of its governance legacy and a symbol of its commitment to rural welfare. Chidambaram's evocative phrase—'second killing of Mahatma'—is aimed at framing the issue not just as a policy dispute but as an ideological assault on the values of social justice and rights-based development associated with Gandhi.
The controversy sets the stage for renewed parliamentary debate and political campaigning, especially in rural constituencies. It raises significant questions about the future of social security schemes in India and the government's approach to legally guaranteed economic rights for the poor.
