Telangana Assembly passes resolution against replacement of MGNREGA
Hyderabad (PTI): Amid opposition from the BJP members, the Telangana Legislative Assembly on Friday passed a resolution opposing the Centre's move to replace the MGNREGA with VB G RAM G Act and demanded that the former legislation be continued.
Moving the resolution, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy said the new law adversely affects the rights of the poor and women workers, and also undermines the federal spirit by causing additional financial burden on states.
He also demanded that the funding pattern under MGNREGA be continued.
The spirit of Mahatma Gandhi is weakened by removing his name in the title of the new legislation, he alleged.
Claiming that the provision to pause for 60-day during agricultural season would cause injustice to landless poor, he said the employment should be available throughout the year.
While 266 types of work can be taken up under MGNREGA, the new law removes certain works like development of lands which hurts small and marginal farmers, Dalits and tribals, he pointed out and sought the continuation of existing list of works.
Alleging that the VB G RAM G Act is anti-women as it reduces number of work days, the CM said poor women suffer because of this.
"By taking all these issues into consideration and keeping in view the objectives and aims of MGNREGA, this House resolves that the NREGA law be continued as it is to fulfil the aspirations of workers' families," the resolution said.
Revanth Reddy noted that 90 per cent of those who benefited in Telangana by MGNREGA, enacted during the UPA regime, were SCs, STs and BCs and that 62 per cent of them were women.
BJP legislators expressed their opposition to the resolution by voting against it when Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar sought members' response to the resolution, party MLA Palvai Harish Babu told PTI.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, state Panchayat Raj Minister D Anasuya Seethakka and the ruling Congress members defended MGNREGA and found fault with its replacement by the new law.
BJP floor leader A Maheshwar Reddy countered the state government's claims, saying the new law helps in realising Mahatma Gandhi's vision of 'Gram Swaraj' (village self rule).
VB G RAM G helps farmers as it pauses works during agricultural season to address shortage of workers, he said.
Meanwhile, certain comments CPI MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao, who attacked BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, triggered a furore as BJP members objected to his remarks.
Speaker Prasad Kumar assured that he would look into the issue and expunge any objectionable remarks from records.
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Ballari clash: Sriramulu, Janardhana Reddy hold press meet; statue unveiling postponed
Ballari: Former minister B Sriramulu and Gangavathi MLA Gali Janardhana Reddy addressed a joint press conference on Friday, a day after a violent clash broke out between rival Reddy groups over the installation of banners ahead of the Valmiki statue unveiling programme in the city.
Speaking to reporters, Sriramulu said the death of Rajasekhar Reddy, who was killed by a gunshot during the clash, was painful. He said he and his party would stand by the victim’s family and extend support to them. Alleging that Ballari MLA Nara Bharath Reddy was responsible for the incident, Sriramulu demanded legal action against him and called for a thorough probe to establish whose bullet caused Rajasekhar Reddy’s death.
Sriramulu further alleged that the clash was premeditated, claiming that a group had come near their residence with petrol-filled beer bottles and stones, allegedly with the intention of attacking them. He also alleged that there was an attempt to assault Janardhana Reddy.
Janardhana Reddy, addressing the media, said the incident had made him fear for his life. He alleged that there was an attempt to kill him and held Bharath Reddy responsible for the violence. Former minister Somasekhar Reddy, BJP Ballari district leaders and party workers were also present at the press meet.
The clash occurred on Thursday night in the Havambhavi area when rival groups confronted each other over putting up banners for the Valmiki statue unveiling scheduled for January 3. During the violence, a Congress worker was shot dead. Police have registered four separate cases in connection with the incident, including one taken up suo motu.
Responding to the allegations, Ballari MLA Bharath Reddy said the party was mourning the loss of its worker, Rajasekhar Reddy, whom he described as a close associate. He accused Janardhana Reddy of trying to divert attention from illegal mining issues and said the death had cast a shadow over the planned celebrations. He announced that the Valmiki statue unveiling programme had been postponed due to the prevailing atmosphere of grief.
Meanwhile, Ballari Rural MLA B Nagendra confirmed that the statue unveiling event had been temporarily deferred following the clash and on the advice of the Chief Minister. He said the programme would be held on a later date under the leadership of the Chief Minister and senior ministers. Nagendra also criticised Janardhana Reddy, saying there was no place for what he described as a “Republic of Ballari” mindset under the present administration, and asserted that the government would not allow any form of intimidation or lawlessness.
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