In a sharp critique of the ruling dispensation, senior Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain launched a dual attack on Saturday, alleging the government was undermining a key rural employment guarantee and weaponizing central investigative agencies against political rivals.
Allegations of Diluting MNREGA's Core Promise
Addressing the media at the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) headquarters in Lucknow, Hussain, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), trained his sights on recent legislative changes concerning the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA).
He asserted that a Bill passed by Parliament under the guise of "reforms" had fundamentally altered the nature of the scheme. Hussain claimed the move transformed MNREGA from a statutory guarantee of livelihood, linked to constitutional rights under Article 21, into a conditional welfare program tightly controlled by the Centre.
The Congress leader further accused the Union government of imposing a heavier financial burden on states by forcing them to contribute a larger share of the expenditure, while the Centre retained authority over the rules, monitoring mechanisms, and branding. He criticized the "excessive centralisation" through digital systems, arguing it was eroding the traditional powers of gram sabhas and panchayats.
Claims of Political Misuse of Investigative Agencies
Shifting focus to the political arena, Hussain welcomed a recent court decision that rejected proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.
He labeled the case as politically motivated and lacking a legal foundation, pointing out that both the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had previously found no predicate offence to justify the probe. Hussain accused the central government of systematically using agencies like the ED for political intimidation, citing instances of prolonged questioning and repeated investigations targeting Opposition leaders.
He emphasized that the court had raised serious questions regarding the ED's jurisdiction in the matter and the circumstances under which the case was revived after lying dormant for several years.
Broader Implications and Political Standoff
The allegations made by the senior Congress figure highlight the escalating political tensions between the ruling party and the Opposition. The charges concerning MNREGA touch upon a critical social security net for millions of rural households, framing the changes as a rollback of a constitutional assurance.
Simultaneously, the accusations of agency misuse feed into a persistent narrative from opposition parties about the alleged use of central investigative bodies to settle political scores. These twin issues are likely to fuel further debate in Parliament and on public platforms as the political landscape heats up.
