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New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, left, and Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge during the national MGNREGA workers' convention hosted by Rachnatmak Congress, in New Delhi, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (PTI Photo)
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Thursday promised that the party will fight against the name change of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme (renamed as VG-G RAM G) during the Budget session, which is scheduled to begin on January 28 this year.
Speaking during the National MGNREGA Workers’ Convention in New Delhi, organised by the Rachnatmak Congress, Kharge said, “Our fight is going to be a long one. Satyagraha or shouting slogans won’t help in this fight. Till they don’t repeal the new laws and bring MGNREGA back, we will continue our fight.”
“In the Budget session, we will fight for this issue. This is our promise to you… [The name change] is an attempt to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name from public memory, weaken Gram Swaraj concept,” he said.
‘Objectives similar to three black farm laws’
Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Modi government’s objectives are the same in repealing MGNREGA as they were in bringing the “three black farm laws”, as he urged poor people to unite against the move to bring the VB G RAM G Act, news agency PTI reported.
Addressing the Convention, the Congress leader said the concept of MGNREGA was to give rights to the poor. “The thinking was to provide work to those who need it. This scheme was to be run through the third tier of government – Panchayati Raj. The word rights was important. All poor people had the right to work under MGNREGA and PM Modi-BJP wants to finish that concept,” Gandhi said.
The government also brought in the “three black farm laws” a few years ago, following which farmers were able to halt it by putting pressure “unitedly” on them, the former Congress chief said. “We all put pressure and got the laws repealed. They are doing the same thing with workers that they did with farmers as they brought the three black farm laws,” he said in his speech, PTI quoted.
Gandhi also alleged that the new law will enable the Centre to decide the work and allocation of funds with BJP-ruled governments always getting precedence. What workers used to get earlier will now be given to contractors and bureaucracy, he added.
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“They (BJP) want assets to be in a few hands so that the poor people are dependent on Adani-Ambani, that is their model of India,” he charged. They want an India where the King decides everything, he told the audience.
Gandhi also said he was unable to remember the name of the new law and asked the audience what it was.
Congress’ move against VB-G RAM G Act so far
Workers from across India participated in the MGNREGA Workers’ Convention in New Delhi on Thursday. In a symbolic gesture, they brought along fistful of soil from their work sites that was put in plants, in the presence of Congress leaders.
On January 10, the Congress party launched ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ — a 45-day nationwide campaign against the repeal of the UPA-era MGNREGA.
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The Opposition is demanding the withdrawal of the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based law in its original form, the right to work and the authority of the panchayats.
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