Puducherry: Tamil Nadu CPI secretary R Mutharasan Saturday charged the Bharathiya Janata Party (BJP)-headed NDA government at the Centre with denying the people freedom of speech and expression during the last five years of its rule.

He said this while campaigning for the candidates of the secular progressive alliance contesting the April 18 Lok Sabha poll and also the byelection to the Thattanchavady assembly constituency here.

The forthcoming poll should not be considered a poll battle alone, rather a 'political war' between parties and their ideologies, he said.

He said the Prime Minister had promised the people of the country during the run-up to the Lok Sabha poll in 2014 that farmers in distress would be helped, two crore jobs for the youth would be generated and steps to improve the lot of the weaker sections would be taken.

But, Modi had not done anything and his five- year rule was a 'monumental failure', he

He assured the people of Puducherry of statehood status if they voted the Secular Progressive Alliance to power at the Centre.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who accompanied the CPI leader, described Modi as 'anti-dalits and anti- minorities.'

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Bengaluru: Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Priyank Kharge has expressed concern over the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of the proposed VB-G Ram G scheme, stating that the MNREGA programme, which has been a lifeline for rural India for nearly two decades, appears to be facing an uncertain future.

Speaking to media, Kharge said that as March 31 draws to a close, there is no clarity on the rollout of the new scheme from April 1. He pointed out that the central government has not yet issued the necessary guidelines for implementing the scheme for rural workers and villages.

He criticised the Centre for its lack of preparedness, stating that there is no clarity on fund allocation, no final parameters for classifying gram panchayats, and key processes such as social audits have not been defined.

Kharge said the situation comes at a critical time, as summer marks a peak period for rural employment demand, when many people depend heavily on wage employment for their livelihood.

He added that reports have emerged of delays in approvals and families not receiving work despite demand.

He further alleged that the Centre’s move to shift from a statutory employment guarantee to a rule-based allocation system is already showing negative consequences.

Kharge also raised concerns over provisions such as a mandatory 60-day halt during agricultural seasons, which he said would further limit employment opportunities for rural workers.

The BJP-led central government had claimed that the new scheme would transform rural India, but in reality it is turning out to be detrimental to people’s livelihoods, he said.

“The crisis in rural India due to the stalling of MNREGA is beginning to unfold. Given the Centre’s past record in handling such situations, there is growing concern over the impact on rural livelihoods,” Kharge said.