Congress Criticizes New Employment Mission, Accuses BJP of Undermining MGNREGA
Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra has strongly criticized the BJP's new Bharat Employment and Livelihood Mission, alleging it aims to dismantle the MGNREGA scheme initiated by Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. He claims the central government will restrict job allocations to areas where the BJP is in power. In response, the Congress party plans to launch a nationwide 'Save MGNREGA' campaign starting January 5, emphasizing the scheme's importance as a constitutional right. This initiative aims to mobilize public support against any attempts to weaken the employment guarantee program.
| Jan 1, 2026, 18:28 IST
Congress President Critiques New Employment Initiative
On Thursday, Govind Singh Dotasra, the President of the Rajasthan Congress, sharply criticized the newly introduced Bharat Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Act. He accused the BJP of attempting to dismantle the rural employment guarantee scheme, MGNREGA, which was initiated by Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. Dotasra claimed that the central government will now determine that work will only be allocated in areas where the BJP is in power.
In a conversation with a news agency, Dotasra stated that the right to work was granted by Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, and now the BJP is working to eliminate it. He emphasized that they are not merely changing names; they are not just removing Mahatma Gandhi's name. Instead, they are abolishing the law that guaranteed employment. The central government will decide that work will only be provided in regions where the BJP holds power, where their legislators are present, and even then, the state government will have to contribute 40%.
Previously, Mallikarjun Kharge, the National President of the Indian National Congress, announced that the party would launch a nationwide 'Save MGNREGA' campaign starting January 5, focusing on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as the centerpiece of a public movement. Speaking to the media, Kharge mentioned that party leaders pledged to oppose any attempts to weaken or alter the scheme.
Kharge stated that during the meeting, they took an oath to initiate a nationwide public movement centered around the MGNREGA scheme. The Indian National Congress will take a leading role in the 'Save MGNREGA' campaign starting January 5. Highlighting the significance of the scheme, the Congress President asserted that MGNREGA is not just a welfare program but a constitutional right.