Rahul Gandhi Invokes Farmers' Protest to Rally MGNREGA Workers Against New Law
In a powerful address at the MGNREGA workers convention in New Delhi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi drew parallels between the recent farmers' protests and the current struggle against the new Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act. Recalling how united resistance forced the Central government to roll back the three farm laws, Gandhi called upon MGNREGA workers to emulate this path of collective action to demand the withdrawal of the new legislation.
Gandhi's Call to Action and Allegations Against BJP
Speaking at the event organized by the opposition party at Jawahar Bhawan in Delhi, Gandhi directly targeted the BJP and the Central government. He asserted, "Here is the only way to stop them; workers have been shown the way by farmers. I know these people, they are cowards. If we all stand together, they will be forced to restore MGNREGA." He cited the farm laws as a precedent for successful resistance, emphasizing that unity could compel policy reversals.
Gandhi alleged that the BJP's motive behind replacing MGNREGA with the new law is to dismantle the guaranteed right to work and right to demand work. He claimed this move enables centralization, where the Central government decides fund allocation, disproportionately favoring BJP-ruled states over Opposition-ruled ones. In a striking comparison, he accused the BJP of wanting to take India back to pre-independence days, saying, "These people want to take India back to pre-independence days where one King used to decide everything."
Symbolic Gestures and Solidarity at the Convention
The convention saw Gandhi, along with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior leaders, standing in solidarity with workers from various states. In a symbolic display of unity, they adorned traditional labourers' gamchhas on their heads and held spades on their shoulders. Workers brought soil from their MGNREGA worksites, adding it to tree saplings to convey a message of collective struggle and resilience.
Kharge escalated the rhetoric by alleging that the Modi government's dismantling of MGNREGA is part of a "conspiracy to erase Mahatma Gandhi's name from public memory" and an attempt to turn oppressed people into bonded labourers. He announced that the party plans to raise this issue during the upcoming Budget session of Parliament, building on their ongoing "MGNREGA Bachao Sangram" campaign through outreach to gram sabhas and larger programs.
Broader Constitutional Concerns and Future Plans
Gandhi framed the scrapping of MGNREGA as an attack on the Constitution, likening it to previous policies such as the three black farm laws, demonetisation, and flawed GST implementation. He remarked, "What is the name of this new law... I don't know," with audience members responding by saying "VB-G RAM G", highlighting the confusion and opposition surrounding the legislation.
The Congress's strategy involves mobilizing grassroots support to challenge the new law, leveraging the momentum from the farmers' protests. This event underscores the ongoing political tensions over social welfare schemes and workers' rights in India, setting the stage for further debates in Parliament and beyond.
