Senior Congress leader and Thanesar MLA Ashok Arora launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government, accusing it of deliberately weakening and attempting to dismantle the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The allegations were made during a press conference at the Congress Bhawan in Kurukshetra on Saturday.
Allegations of 'Murder in Broad Daylight'
Arora, addressing the media under the party's 'MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan', stated that the BJP's actions amounted to the "murder of MGNREGA in broad daylight." He asserted that the Congress party would never tolerate such a move. The joint press conference saw the presence of Pehowa MLA Mandeep Chatta, Shahabad MLA Ram Karan Kala, and former MP Kailasho Saini.
The core accusation is that the central government has removed the legal guarantee of work that was the foundational pillar of the scheme. Arora alleged that by stripping away Mahatma Gandhi's name from the program and altering its fundamental framework, the Centre has "destroyed its very soul."
Congress Announces Statewide Agitation Plan
In response to these alleged changes, the Congress has prepared a detailed plan for a statewide agitation. As part of this campaign, press conferences were held simultaneously in every district of Haryana on the same day. The protest will escalate on January 11, when Congress workers will observe a one-day demonstration at all district headquarters.
This protest will involve paying homage at statues of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation. Arora vowed that the Congress would continue its struggle from the streets to the Parliament until the original form and spirit of MGNREGA are fully restored.
The Significance of MGNREGA and BJP's Alleged Changes
Highlighting the scheme's monumental importance, Arora recalled that MGNREGA was introduced by the Congress-led UPA government in 2005. It guaranteed on-demand employment to any rural household, with work mandated to be provided within 15 days of application, ensuring at least 100 days of wages every year.
"This made MGNREGA the backbone of rural livelihoods, providing employment to 5-6 crore families annually," Arora emphasized. He presented data showing that since 2006, the scheme has generated over 180 crore person-days of work and created more than 10 crore rural assets. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a crucial lifeline, supporting employment for 4.06 crore families.
Arora alleged that the current BJP government has ended this legal right to work. He claimed the Centre now intends to unilaterally decide where work will be provided and where it will not, effectively dismantling a guaranteed safety net for the poor. The Congress leader reiterated that the party would fight any compromise with the scheme's original character and prevent the erosion of this vital social welfare program.
