In a significant political demonstration, the ruling Congress party in Karnataka staged a vehement protest on Wednesday against the central government's decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with a new legislation. The protest, held during the ongoing winter session, saw top state leadership challenging the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to remove Mahatma Gandhi's picture from currency notes if it was so opposed to his legacy.
Leaders Lead Charge at Suvarna Vidhana Soudha
The demonstration was led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, and took place in front of the Gandhi statue at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi. Ministers and legislators from both legislative houses participated in the event, which also served as a platform to condemn what the Congress termed as "hate politics" targeting its top leadership in cases like the National Herald matter.
Siddaramaiah launched a sharp critique against the BJP-led Union government, accusing it of merely repackaging Congress-initiated welfare schemes under new names. "It won't be long before we hear of 'GModiG'," he quipped, sarcastically referring to the proposed new law's name, VB-G RAM G. He highlighted a pattern of renaming, citing the change from Raj Bhavan to Lok Bhavan and the Planning Commission to Niti Aayog, while alleging the government's failure to control the soaring prices of essential commodities.
Allegations of Political Vendetta and Constitutional Challenge
The Chief Minister further accused the BJP of indulging in politics of hatred and fabricating cases against Congress members, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. This comment came a day after a Delhi court refused to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering charges against them, noting the investigation originated from a private complaint and not a formal FIR.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar issued a direct challenge to the BJP. "Replacing MGNREGA is a national problem. We have introduced MGNREGA through an amendment to the Constitution. You can't change a constitutional amendment," he asserted, vowing to raise the issue in the state assembly. Shivakumar, who has received a notice to appear for questioning in the National Herald case, also alleged procedural lapses by the Delhi Police for not providing him with a copy of the FIR.
Historical Accusations and Political Rebuttals
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao joined the chorus, criticising the renaming of MGNREGA as a reflection of the BJP and its ideological parent RSS's inherent opposition to Mahatma Gandhi and his principles.
Reacting to the protest, opposition leader in the council, Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, turned the tables by accusing the Congress of having a historical record of opposing Mahatma Gandhi. "We are not against Gandhi. Congress is against Gandhi. Gandhi had told them they had achieved independence, so dissolve Congress party immediately as it is not a political party. But they didn't," he claimed, adding a layer of historical counter-narrative to the heated political exchange.
The protest underscores the deepening political rift between the Congress-ruled state and the BJP-led centre, setting the stage for further confrontations on both policy and symbolic fronts.
