Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to centralise power and dilute welfare protections for the poor, alleging that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) had been systematically weakened.
Addressing Congress workers during his visit to Raebareli, his parliamentary constituency, Gandhi said the government had not only “insulted” MGNREGA by changing its name but had also withdrawn the security it provided to marginalised sections, which he termed an assault on the foundations of democracy.
“The Congress is running a nationwide movement to protect MGNREGA. We stand with labourers and are committed to safeguarding their rights,” he said.
The Congress leader further alleged that the Prime Minister was working to concentrate the country’s wealth in the hands of a few industrialists, naming Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani.
“On one side, we are protecting the people, while on the other, Narendra Modi is diverting the country’s entire wealth to a select few,” Gandhi claimed.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi inaugurated a cricket tournament in Raebareli and later held meetings with party office-bearers and workers. He is on a two-day visit to the constituency.
Meanwhile, Parliament on December 18, 2025, passed the Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) [VB-GRAM-G] Bill, replacing the 20-year-old MGNREGA. The new legislation guarantees 125 days of rural wage employment annually.
The bill was passed amid strong opposition protests, with Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stating that the move was necessary to address shortcomings in the earlier scheme. Opposition parties objected to the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the legislation and alleged that the Centre was shifting the financial burden onto states.
