Congress to Strategize on MGNREGA in Upcoming CWC Meeting

CWC Meeting to Discuss MGNREGA Strategy

The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is set to convene on Saturday to deliberate on the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and outline its future strategy.

Sources indicate that during this meeting, the committee may decide on various initiatives aimed at confronting the government regarding MGNREGA.

Chaired by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the meeting is expected to include prominent figures such as Sonia Gandhi, leader of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, and other senior leaders.

Congress Accuses Government of Undermining MGNREGA

Congress has alleged that the 'Developed India-Gi Ram Ji Act' is an attempt to dismantle MGNREGA, claiming that removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme is an insult to the Father of the Nation.

Former party president Sonia Gandhi stated on December 20 that the central government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has effectively bulldozed MGNREGA, jeopardizing the interests of millions of farmers, laborers, and impoverished landless rural communities.

She also emphasized the party's commitment to fighting against what she termed 'black laws.'

Allegations of Planned Demise of MGNREGA

Following the passage of the Gi Ram Ji Bill in Parliament, Kharge accused the government of not only changing the name of MGNREGA but also executing a 'planned murder' of the scheme. He criticized Prime Minister Modi's gestures of laying flowers at Mahatma Gandhi's statues abroad as mere theatrics.

Rahul Gandhi remarked that the Gi Ram Ji Act is detrimental to states and villages, and announced plans to establish a nationwide front to compel the government to withdraw it.

The 'Developed India-Gi Ram Ji Bill, 2025' was approved by Parliament on December 18 amidst opposition uproar and has now become law following President Droupadi Murmu's assent. This new act will replace the two-decade-old MGNREGA.