The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab orchestrated a significant demonstration in Fatehgarh Sahib on Saturday, mobilizing a large crowd to voice strong opposition against the central government's handling of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The protest specifically targeted the recent rebranding of the scheme and alleged systemic discrimination against the state.
Leaders Rally Against "Anti-Punjab" Policies
The protest was spearheaded by Fatehgarh Sahib MLA Lakhbir Singh Rai and Gurpreet Singh G P, the state president of the AAP's SC wing. Participants raised slogans condemning what they termed as the Narendra Modi-led central government's anti-worker and anti-Punjab policies. The gathering served as a platform for leaders to articulate their grievances against the Union government's recent decisions.
Addressing the assembled crowd, MLA Lakhbir Singh Rai launched a sharp critique. He accused the Modi government of engaging in political maneuvering by renaming MGNREGA as 'Viksit Bharat - Guarantee Rozgar Ajeevika Mission Gramin' (VB-G RAM G). "Ever since the BJP government came to power at the Centre, Punjab has been continuously discriminated against," Rai asserted. He further claimed that after its perceived defeat in the farmers' movement, the Modi government has nurtured a hostility towards Punjabis, with the tampering of MGNREGA being the latest evidence.
Vows of Resistance and Broader Allegations
Rai pledged a relentless fight for the state's rights under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Echoing this sentiment, Gurpreet Singh G P alleged that over the past 12 years, the central government has actively worked to weaken Punjab. "The Centre not only failed to fulfil its promises made to the youth, women, and industries but also created obstacles in development by withholding Punjab's funds," he charged.
Gurpreet Singh issued a stern warning, stating that if the alleged harassment of MGNREGA workers does not cease, the party will launch a fierce agitation across the entire state of Punjab. The protest also saw support from allied groups, with Balwinder Singh Chanarthal, state president of the Bharatiya Kisan Mazdoor Ekta Maha Sangh (Reuna), condemning the central government's decision and vowing to continue the struggle until the law is repealed.
Mounting Tensions Over Central Schemes
The protest in Fatehgarh Sahib highlights the escalating political tensions between the AAP-led Punjab government and the BJP-led Centre. The focal point is the perceived dilution and rebranding of a key central welfare scheme, which the state's ruling party frames as part of a larger pattern of neglect and bias. The event signals a readiness for prolonged confrontation on issues concerning rural employment and federal rights, setting the stage for potential state-wide mobilizations in the near future.
