Congress Announces Nationwide Protests Against MGNREGA Renaming: Defending Gandhi's Legacy and Rural Employment Rights

The Congress party has directed its state units to organize protests at all district headquarters across India.

The Indian National Congress has announced nationwide protests in response to the Central government's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The opposition party accuses the BJP and RSS of attempting to "dismantle rights-based welfare" and substitute it with centrally controlled charity.

Pradesh Congress Committees have been instructed to conduct demonstrations at all district headquarters. These protests will prominently feature portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, symbolizing resistance against what they describe as an "erasure of his name and values" while highlighting the potential consequences of the new legislation for millions of beneficiaries.

In an official statement posted on X, the INC stated, "This combined attack on Gandhiji's legacy, workers rights and federal responsibility exposes a larger BJP-RSS conspiracy to dismantle rights-based welfare and replace it with charity controlled from the Centre."

"In view of the gravity of this attack, all PCCs are hereby directed to organize protests tomorrow, 17th December 2025, at all District Headquarters. These protests must be held with portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, symbolizing resistance to the erasure of his name and values and highlight how the new law will impact the crores of beneficiaries," the statement continued.

The party further announced plans to commemorate its Foundation Day on December 28, instructing Congress PCCs to hold events in all mandals and villages. These programs will also display Gandhiji's portraits, reaffirming the party's commitment to labor dignity, social justice, and employment rights.

Congress has called for broad participation from party functionaries, elected representatives, civil society organizations, MGNREGA workers, beneficiaries, and the general public in these demonstrations.

"PCCs are requested to ensure wide participation of party functionaries at all levels, elected representatives, civil society organizations, MGNREGA workers and beneficiaries, and the general public. These programmes should clearly highlight how the BJP Government is dismantling the people's law, undermining rural livelihoods and betraying Gandhiji's vision," the Congress stated on social media.

"This is both a political and moral struggle. The Congress Party must lead from the front to defend MGNREGA, Gandhiji's legacy and the constitutional promise of justice for the poorest," the party emphasized.

Earlier today, the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, also known as the VB-G RAM-G Bill, was introduced in the Lok Sabha. This legislation aims to replace the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

The proposed bill guarantees 125 days of wage employment per rural household, an increase from the current 100 days, for adult members willing to perform unskilled manual labor. It seeks to provide income security while creating durable, productivity-enhancing rural assets through a nationally coordinated development strategy.

In protest, numerous opposition MPs demonstrated outside Parliament's Makar Dwar and gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi statue within Parliament premises.

The protesting MPs, holding photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, accused the Centre of attempting to dismantle the rural employment scheme under the pretext of renaming it.

Prominent leaders including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and KC Venugopal participated in the demonstration.