In a sharp critique of the central government, senior Congress leader and Opposition leader V D Satheesan on Tuesday accused the BJP-led Union administration of demonstrating fear and intolerance towards Mahatma Gandhi. The charge stems from the government's decision to introduce a new bill that replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), effectively removing the Father of the Nation's name from the landmark welfare programme.
Allegations of Systematic Erasure of Legacy
Satheesan, in an official statement, asserted that the move to bring forth the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill 2025 reflects the deep-seated hostility of the Sangh Parivar towards Gandhi and his ideals. He described Gandhian principles as the soul of the nation and claimed that forces advocating for division and hatred cannot accept his message of universal love and inclusiveness.
"Those linked to the legacy of his assassins continue to fear even his name and memory," Satheesan alleged. He further accused the BJP government of a repeated pattern of attempting to erase the legacy of national leaders. This, he said, has been done by renaming schemes associated with former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, and by seeking to undermine the history of India's freedom struggle.
Defending MGNREGS and Congress's Role
The Opposition leader staunchly defended the MGNREGS, calling it a revolutionary initiative launched by the UPA government in 2005 that tackled hunger and empowered vast sections of the population, especially women. He accused the Narendra Modi-led government of now trying to claim ownership of the popular programme by delinking it from Mahatma Gandhi's name.
Satheesan emphasized that the Congress and its leaders are an inseparable part of India's fabric. "The BJP govt should not forget that the Congress and its leaders also belong to India," he stated, countering the alleged narrative that projects the nation as belonging exclusively to one political ideology while ignoring the Congress's role in building modern India.
The New Bill and a Call for Resistance
According to the provisions of the proposed VB-G RAM G Bill, it will provide a statutory guarantee of 125 days of wage employment each financial year to rural households whose adult members volunteer for unskilled manual work. States will be required to formulate a scheme consistent with the new law within six months of its commencement.
However, Satheesan warned that removing Gandhi's name would not erase his ideas. He predicted that the country would collectively resist the Centre's decision. Demanding an immediate withdrawal of what he termed an "arrogant and unjustified" move, the Congress leader affirmed that the spirit of Gandhi would endure beyond mere nomenclature.
