Chandigarh: Strongly opposing the BJP government’s move to change the original framework of MGNREGA, the Congress party registered strong objections and appeared highly aggressive in protest. In this context, the Congress launched the nationwide “Save MGNREGA Struggle” campaign from the Chandigarh-based headquarters of the Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee.
Addressing a press conference on the occasion, Haryana in-charge B. K. Hariprasad said that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), implemented in 2005 by the UPA government, is a historic law that guarantees every rural household a legal right to at least 100 days of employment per year.
He said that this law is not only a means of providing employment, but also a lifeline for the poor and a strong pillar of the rural economy. He added that, as part of the protest and in accordance with the directions of the party high command, agitations would be carried out at every level.
Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Rao Narendra Singh, in his address, said that unfortunately the present government has been making continuous attempts over the past 5–6 years to weaken MGNREGA. To ensure rural employment and protect the core objective of MGNREGA, the Congress party has launched the “Save MGNREGA Campaign” at the national level. Through this campaign, the public will be made aware of their rights.
He further stated that MGNREGA is not just a source of employment, but also a powerful tool to strengthen the rural economy and improve the living standards of the poor and deprived sections. He informed that under the “Save MGNREGA Struggle,” preparatory meetings will be held at the PCC level, district-level press conferences will be organized, one-day fasts and symbolic protests will be conducted, people will be mobilized at the panchayat level, and peaceful sit-ins will be held at the ward level.
This will be followed by district-level MGNREGA protection protests, a state-level gherao of the Vidhan Sabha, and regional rallies to raise awareness. He said that through this campaign, the Congress will strive to reach every person affected by attempts to change the structure of MGNREGA.
Former Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that due to cuts in funding, delays in wage payments, reduction in the number of workdays, and arbitrary restrictions, the poor, Dalits, tribals, women, and other marginalized sections have been the worst affected. According to various government reports, more than 60 percent of MGNREGA wage payments are delayed. He warned that severe consequences would emerge in the coming times.
Senior Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, in his statement, said that the BJP government is constantly harassing the common people under one pretext or another. By changing the original structure of MGNREGA, these corrupt elements are attempting to snatch food from the mouths of rural people, the poor, the deprived, women, and the needy. He said that the Congress party had carefully designed the MGNREGA scheme to strengthen the rural economy and provide employment to women close to their homes, so that they would not have to wander in search of work. However, the corrupt BJP government cannot tolerate the poor earning even a basic livelihood. He asserted that the Congress would never allow the BJP government’s intentions to succeed and is prepared to launch even the biggest movements to protect MGNREGA.
On this occasion, MP Deepender Singh Hooda said that dismantling the MGNREGA scheme is a living example of the BJP’s authoritarianism. He said that the issue is not merely about changing the name, but about altering the structure of the scheme to snatch the rights and entitlements of the needy—an attempt that will fail. The Congress party will never allow the BJP’s effort to succeed.
Through the media, leaders appealed to everyone to actively participate in this campaign in their respective areas and carry forward the struggle to secure the rightful entitlements of the poor through MGNREGA. During the programme, a detailed discussion was also held regarding the upcoming municipal corporation elections in three districts of Haryana.
Speaking on this issue, the Pradesh Congress President said that the Congress has geared up for the municipal elections and will approach the people with its constructive policies, expressing full confidence that the Congress will emerge victorious in these local body elections.
During the press conference, several senior leaders, MPs, MLAs, office bearers, and party workers were present, including MP and Congress Working Committee member Deepender Singh Hooda; former Haryana PCC presidents Chaudhary Dharampal Singh Malik and Chaudhary Uday Bhan; Chaudhary Ram Kishan Gurjar; Jitendra Kumar Bhardwaj; Suresh Gupta; MP Varun Chaudhary; Satpal Brahmachari; Jaiprakash; MLAs Chaudhary Nirmal Singh, Bharat Bhushan Batra, Chaudhary Aftab Ahmed, Parmvir Singh, Mohammad Ijrail, Ashok Arora, Akram Khan, Chandermohan, Kuldeep Vats; MLA Shailja Chaudhary; Pooja Chaudhary; Geeta Bhukkal; Shakuntla Khatak; Sardar Jarnail Singh; Chandraprakash; Induraj Narwal; Balwan Singh Daulatpuria; Balwan Dangi; Jassi Petwar; Devender Hans; Raghubir Singh Tewatia; Naresh Selwal; Ram Karan Kala; Rohit Chaudhary; Chairman, Ex-Servicemen Department, AICC; Haryana Mahila Congress President Sudha Bhardwaj; Media In-charge Sanjeev Bhardwaj; Dr. Poonam Chauhan; President, Haryana Congress Seva Dal, Manoj Bagri; Chairman, SC Department, Haryana Congress, Fom Lal; Chairman, Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Organisation, Haryana, along with all Congress office bearers and workers.
