The Congress party has declared a major nationwide agitation to challenge the central government's decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Party leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi announced a 'MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan' (Save MGNREGA Campaign) set to commence on January 5, 2026.
A Decision Compared to Demonetisation
Launching a fierce attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress leadership equated the overhaul of the flagship rural job scheme to the 2016 demonetisation move. They labeled it a "one-man decision" taken by the PM without adequate consultation. Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) took the call, bypassing even the concerned minister and the Union Cabinet, calling it reflective of a "one man show" where "Modi does whatever he wants to do".
The announcement followed a marathon meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which deliberated for over three hours on the Modi government's contentious move to replace MGNREGA with a new scheme named VB-GRAMG. The CWC members read out a five-point pledge, vowing to lead the protest campaign to oppose, by all democratic means, what they termed an attempt to convert workers' rights into a government dole.
Warning of Rural Economic Devastation
The party brass argued that disbanding MGNREGA would have severe repercussions. They warned it would devastate the rural economy and seriously impact Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), women, minorities, and the poor. A significant concern raised was the financial burden shifting to states, as the central government's share of the MGNREGA budget would now fall on state governments under the new law.
Kharge mocked the government's claims of making India the fourth-largest economy, pointing out that while industrialists like Adani and Ambani could access unlimited bank loans, the government could not bear its 30% share of the MGNREGA budget. He stated this extra financial load would stall development work in states.
Allegations of Favoring Billionaires
Rahul Gandhi made a direct allegation that the move was designed to benefit billionaire Gautam Adani. "It will benefit Adani in full measure. That is the purpose of this - to take money from the poor and hand it to people like Adani," he claimed. The leaders argued that funds diverted from the rural job guarantee would ultimately end up aiding big corporates.
Expressing confidence in opposition unity, Rahul Gandhi stated that the entire opposition would unite in the future course of action to seek the restoration of MGNREGA. Drawing a parallel to the repealed farm laws, Kharge issued a warning: "Those dependent on MGNREGA are angry. That anger will cost this govt heavily. Remember, the government had to take back the three farm laws after the way the farmers and the opposition fought against them."
The CWC meeting also discussed issues related to the Social Impact Report (SIR) and the Election Commission. Kharge spoke about an alleged nexus between the BJP and the EC, instructing party units and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to ensure votes of marginalised communities are not deleted.
