People hit by changes in MGNREGA will force Centre to reverse it: Kharge

Drawing a parallel between farm laws and the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, 2025, which has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said that resistance by those affected by it will force Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reverse it too.

“When Mr. Modi imposed anti-farmer laws, we opposed. He did not listen to us. He bent only after farmers united and protested and withdrew the laws. The altered MGNREGA will face the same fate,” he said, addressing a public meeting at Yedrami in Kalaburagi district.

‘Snatching livelihood’

Attacking the Union government for changing the structure and name of MGNREGA, Mr. Kharge said the move was a “conspiracy to deprive the rural poor of their right to work and livelihood.”

Mr. Kharge said MGNREGA, introduced by the Congress-led UPA government, was aimed at guaranteeing employment to rural families when agricultural work was unavailable.

“Now, Mr. Modi and the BJP are snatching their bread. They speak volumes about poverty and the poor, while silently pushing policies that hurt them,” he said.

Mr. Kharge said the Centre had reduced its funding share for MGNREGA from 90% to 60%, forcing States to bear a higher burden. “Earlier, local bodies decided what works were needed in their villages. Now the Modi government will decide everything from Delhi. This is an attack on decentralisation and people’s empowerment,” he said, warning that changes to the job scheme must be withdrawn.

Religion and polls

Launching an attack on the Prime Minister, Mr. Kharge accused Mr. Modi of using religion for electoral gains. He alleged that the Prime Minister’s recent focus on religious events, including references to the Somnath temple, was driven by upcoming Assembly elections in States such as Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

Warning against what he described as an assault on constitutional values, Mr. Kharge said, “As long as people do not unite and teach a lesson to the BJP, attacks on the Constitution will continue. If constitutional rights are taken away, you will not even be allowed to speak freely.”

He appealed to people to resist divisive politics, saying, “This is Kalyana Karnataka, the land of Basavanna and social equality. Politics of religious division will not work here.”

Teacher shortage

The Congress president raised concern over teacher shortages in Kalyana Karnataka, saying that government schools existed without adequate subject teachers.

“Buildings alone do not educate children; teachers do. The poor cannot send their children to private schools in cities. The State government should first fill teaching vacancies in Kalyana Karnataka, then look elsewhere,” he said, turning to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar who were also on the stage.