The Congress party's Bihar unit has announced a major statewide protest movement against the central government's recently passed VB-G-RAM-G Act. The agitation, demanding the restoration of the original Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), is set to be a sustained campaign lasting over one and a half months.
Congress Announces 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram'
The decision was finalized during a preparatory meeting held at the party's state headquarters, Sadaquat Ashram in Patna, on Thursday. The meeting was presided over by Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) chief Rajesh Kumar. It saw the participation of the party's MLAs, MLCs, and senior functionaries. The protest campaign has been officially named the 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' (Save MGNREGA Struggle).
The agitation is scheduled to commence on Saturday, January 10, and will continue across Bihar until February 25. This 47-day-long movement signifies a significant escalation in the party's opposition to the new legislation that replaced the landmark rural jobs scheme.
Why Congress is Opposing the VB-G-RAM-G Act
The VB-G-RAM-G Act was enacted by Parliament during its recent winter session. It faced immediate condemnation from the Congress and other opposition parties. State Congress chief Rajesh Kumar launched a scathing attack on the new law, calling it a "direct assault on the basic spirit of MGNREGA."
According to the Congress, the new Act is deeply flawed on multiple fronts:
- Erasure of Gandhian Legacy: It allegedly removes Mahatma Gandhi's name and the associated spirit of addressing rural poverty from the public scheme.
- Weakening Right to Work: The party claims the Act dilutes the legal guarantee of work for rural poor, agricultural workers, and villagers.
- Financial Burden on States: Changes in the funding pattern are said to place an additional financial load on state governments.
- Centralization of Power: The Act is accused of concentrating control in the hands of the central government, undermining both the federal structure and the panchayati raj system.
Kumar emphasized that MGNREGA was not just a scheme but a "constitutional guarantee" for the work and livelihood demands of crores of impoverished families in India.
A Political Battle on Streets and in Legislature
The Congress has vowed to fight the VB-G-RAM-G Act on all possible fronts. Rajesh Kumar declared that the party would struggle and fight against it both on the roads and in Parliament and the state legislature. This indicates a dual strategy of mass mobilization through public agitation combined with legislative pressure.
The upcoming 47-day agitation across Bihar is the first major step in this planned resistance. It positions the Congress directly against the central government on an issue core to rural welfare and federalism. The success and reach of the 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' will be closely watched as a barometer of the party's organizational strength and public support on this emotive issue in the state.
