Rahul, Kharge say 'united & constant fight a must to make govt reinstate MGNREGA'

New Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said a united and relentless fight is needed to force the Modi government to reinstate the UPA government-enacted MGNREGA. Addressing a Congress convention here on the issue, they alleged that the recently enacted G RAM G scheme was part of the Centre's design to deny workers right-based MGNREGA, drop the name of Mahatma Gandhi from the national rural employment scheme and to make the new scheme work on the political prerogative of the BJP-led government.

"The fight to save MGNREGA is a very long one. We cannot fight this battle by sitting in one place or merely raising slogans. Until the government withdraws the new law and fully restores MGNREGA, we will have to keep fighting. We had started MGNREGA in the name of Mahatma Gandhiji, but this government is determined to destroy it. By ending MGNREGA, the government has attacked the poor and weaker sections of rural India, and this is being opposed across the country," said Kharge, adding Congress will again raise it during the Parliament session.

Alleging that the new scheme will work on the political priority of the Centre, Gandhi recalled how the relentless agitation by farmers had forced the Centre to withdraw the contentious farm bills.