Modi govt wants to push country back to era of 'maharajas': Rahul slams MGNREGA repeal
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday alleged that the motive behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi's “intent to destroy” MGNREGA is to strip workers of their right to negotiate wages, strip panchayats of their power, and push the country back to the era of kings when all power was concentrated in the hands of a few.
Gandhi shared a video of his recent interaction with MGNREGA workers on X and said the same workers who proclaimed that MGNREGA changed their lives were now saying that the Modi government is "enslaving workers".
In his post in Hindi accompanying the video, Gandhi said, "What is the motive behind Modi ji's intent to destroy MGNREGA? To strip workers of their right to negotiate daily wages; to strip panchayats of their power and tie their hands; to strip states of their authority and centralise power in Delhi; to push the country back to the era of kings and maharajas, where all power and wealth were concentrated in the hands of a few.”
“Minimum wages, a guarantee of year-round work, the right to work with freedom and dignity – these are what the country's millions of labourers were proclaiming in one voice: 'MGNREGA changed our lives'. It took decades to bring about these changes,” Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said.
“Today, those same labourers are saying – 'The Modi government is a government that enslaves workers',” he said.
In the video, an MGNREGA worker could be seen telling Gandhi that this government is "enslaving workers".
The MGNREGA workers talk about how the law helped them in providing livelihood security, but the government was intending to "destroy" the “transformative” initiative.
The Congress has been demanding that the government withdraw the new Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or VB-G RAM G Act and fully restore the UPA-era MGNREGA.
On January 10, the Congress launched the 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram', a 45-day nationwide campaign against the repeal of the UPA-era Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
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Cong leader Gowda, arrested for ''abusing'' official, sent to14 days'' judicial custody
Bengaluru (PTI): Congress leader Rajeev Gowda, arrested for "abusing and threatening" Shidlaghatta City Municipal Council Commissioner Amrutha Gowda, was sent to 4 days judicial custody on Tuesday.
Rajeev Gowda was on the run after police registered a case of intimidation and abusing a government officer and interrupting government work. He was arrested from Kerala on Monday.
The accused was produced before the Shidlaghatta Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) on Tuesday. The Court ordered his 14 days' judicial custody.
Rajeev Gowda had threatened Amrutha Gowda with dire consequences and used expletives against her over the phone on January 12 for removing a banner with his photo from a busy junction in Shidlaghatta town.
Since the banners were life threatening for the commuters, Amrutha Gowda ordered it removal, which enraged Rajeev Gowda.
Pained by the incident, Amrutha narrated her ordeal with the media and also made the telephonic conversation public on January 14.
The entire town, including the Municipal employees and officers, came in support of the commissioner and took out a march in the town and staged a sit-in demonstration.
The opposition BJP and JD(S) slammed the government for the incident.
Based on Amrutha Gowda's complaint, police registered an FIR against Rajeev Gowda.
Rajeev Gowda had unsuccessfully contested the 2023 Assembly election from Shidlaghatta segment on the Congress ticket.
