Rae Bareli: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Central government over replacing MGNREGA with the VB G RAM G Act and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to concentrate all the power in his hands.
The Rae Bareli MP, who wason a day visit to his Parliamentary constituency first inaugurated the cricket tournament and then also held chaupal with the MGNREGA workers.
While speaking to the media, Rahul Gandhi said, “Narendra Modi wants to concentrate all power in his hands and let the poor starve to death.”
He tadgeted the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre and said that by removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from MGNREGA, they have insulted him.
“But the main issue is not about changing the name. The Modi government has abolished the protection that was provided to our poor people,” he rued.
He said that the Congress Party is running a movement across the country to save MGNREGA, “and we stand firmly with the workers to protect them”.
“On one side, we are protecting the people, and on the other side, Narendra Modi is siphoning off the entire wealth of the country and handing it over to some businessmen,” he alleged.
During his day-long visit the Gandhi scion personally led the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ campaign in Rae Bareli.
In Umran village of the Unchahar Assembly constituency, he interacted directly with MGNREGA workers and villagers, launching a sharp political attack on the Centre.
During the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram Chaupal’, he also made people aware of their rights.
He said MGNREGA workers are neither getting work on time nor receiving wages promptly. The Congress MP said that flawed government policies have directly affected the livelihoods of the rural poor. “Changing the name does not change ground realities. What is needed is guaranteed work and timely payment of wages,” he said.
He also alleged that the Centre is trying to weaken a crucial scheme like MGNREGA.
