New Delhi [India], January 21 : Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Wednesday backed the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the Centre's decision to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), asserting that the move reflects the BJP's ideological stance.
Speaking to ANI in New Delhi, Tiwari said, "He (Rahul Gandhi) is absolutely correct. Our fight is based on constitutional values and principles. BJP is a proponent of Godse's ideology, which is why they removed Mahatma Gandhi's name from MGNREGA. They could have made amendments while keeping the name the same. Why did they end the employment guarantee?"
Tiwari's remarks come amid nationwide protests led by the Congress against the repeal of MGNREGA, a program that was aimed at providing minimum wage employment and financial protection to rural citizens. Rahul Gandhi had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to "centralise power, hand it over to bureaucracy, and leave the poor citizens to starve," while condemning the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the newly enacted VB-G RAM-G Act.
Rahul Gandhi is currently on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency, Raebareli, where he inaugurated the Raebareli Premier League organised by the Youth Sports Academy at Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium and addressed public meetings opposing the scrapping of MGNREGA.
Earlier this month, Congress announced a nationwide three-phase agitation titled "MGNREGA Bachao" to protest the repeal. Phase 2, which began on January 12 and will continue till January 30, includes Panchayat-level chaupals across gram panchayats, letter deliveries from the Congress president, Vidhan Sabha-level nukkad sabhas, and pamphlet distribution. Phase 3, beginning January 31, will involve district-level dharnas at DC and DM offices till February 6, followed by state-level gheraos of Vidhan Sabha buildings from February 7 to February 15 and four zonal AICC rallies across the country between February 16 and February 25.
The Congress has emphasised that the act's repeal removes crucial protections for the rural poor, while alleging that the government's reforms favour large corporations over citizens relying on employment guarantees.