The Aryavarth Express
Belagavi (Karnataka):
Karnataka Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday criticised the Centre over the decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), alleging that the move reflects the ideological opposition of the BJP and RSS towards Mahatma Gandhi.
Speaking at a protest in Belagavi, Rao said, “It is a well-known fact that the RSS and BJP dislike Mahatma Gandhi, and this is evident in their actions. MGNREGA was a successful employment generation programme that received global recognition.”
The remarks came as Karnataka Congress leaders staged protests near the Gandhi statue at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi, opposing both the Centre’s move to rename MGNREGA and actions related to the National Herald case. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar participated in the protest.
Addressing the gathering, Shivakumar said the National Herald was deeply connected to India’s freedom struggle. “The National Herald is the pride of the nation, established by Jawaharlal Nehru during the freedom movement,” he said, questioning the role of central agencies in the case. He further alleged that he had not been provided a copy of the FIR and claimed the image of the Enforcement Directorate had been “tarnished” due to such actions.
The protest also highlighted opposition to the Centre’s decision to rename MGNREGA, with Congress leaders accusing the BJP-led government of undermining Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and weakening a landmark welfare scheme.
Karnataka Minister M B Patil described Mahatma Gandhi as the Father of the Nation and termed MGNREGA a highly successful programme that generated local employment across rural India. “It was initiated under the leadership of Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The BJP could not digest this and changed its name,” he said.
Earlier, the Congress announced nationwide protests on December 17, accusing the BJP and RSS of attempting to dismantle rights-based welfare programmes and replace them with centrally controlled charity. The party directed its state units to hold demonstrations at district headquarters, featuring portraits of Mahatma Gandhi to symbolise resistance against what it termed the erasure of his name and values.
The Bill introduced by the Agriculture Minister in the Lok Sabha proposes increasing guaranteed wage employment from 100 to 125 days per rural household for adult members willing to undertake unskilled manual work. Under Section 22 of the Bill, the Centre and states will share funds in a 60:40 ratio, while the ratio will be 90:10 for northeastern states, Himalayan states, and Union Territories such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.
Section 6 of the Bill allows state governments to notify up to 60 days in a financial year, covering peak agricultural seasons, during which no work will be undertaken under the scheme.
