The Congress party in Jharkhand has announced a major statewide agitation against the central government's decision to replace the landmark Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The protest will kick off with a significant march in the state capital.
Ranchi March to Lok Bhavan on January 5
On Saturday, January 5, Congress workers and supporters will march from Bapu Vatika in Morhabadi to Lok Bhavan in Ranchi. This demonstration is not an isolated event. Similar protests are planned across all districts of Jharkhand, marking the beginning of a sustained campaign.
The trigger for this agitation is the central government's move during the winter session of Parliament in December last year. The Centre replaced MGNREGA with a new legislation called the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgaar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, abbreviated as VB-G Ram G.
A Nationwide Stir Against "Broken Backbone" of Rural Economy
Addressing the media on Saturday, Jharkhand Congress president Keshav Mahto Kamlesh stated that the January 5 march is part of the party's nationwide protest against this decision. He launched a scathing attack on the Modi government's intent.
"MGNREGA was the backbone of the country’s rural economy, which has been broken by the Union government," Kamlesh asserted. He highlighted the scheme's critical role during the pandemic, calling it a "lifeline in villages," and accused the government of wanting to eliminate it.
The protest plan extends beyond the initial march. From January 12 to 30, the party will organize "Chaupal" gatherings at the panchayat level to sensitize people about the issue. Furthermore, a series of programs under the "MNREGA Bachao Abhiyan" (Save MGNREGA Campaign) are scheduled between January and February.
Erasing Gandhi's Name and Legacy
The Congress leadership has strongly objected to the removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the act. Finance minister Radha Krishana Kishore claimed the VB-G Ram G bill was specifically brought to drop Gandhi's name, alleging the BJP is opposed to his ideology.
"The BJP does not want people in rural areas to get employment, economic prosperity, or increased purchasing power. This reflects BJP's capitalist thinking," Kishore charged. This sentiment was echoed in Dhanbad, where former state Congress president Rajesh Thakur addressed a separate press conference.
Thakur declared that the party would not tolerate any attempt to tamper with the identity or framework of MGNREGA, which he described as one of the most important welfare schemes for rural India. "MGNREGA was introduced by the Congress-led government to curb migration and ensure employment at the grassroots level. Erasing Gandhi’s name is an attack on both his legacy and the rights of the rural poor," he stated emphatically.
The stage is now set for a significant political confrontation in Jharkhand, with the Congress rallying its base around the issue of rural employment and the legacy of a key welfare scheme it pioneered.
