Controversy Erupts Over MGNREGA Replacement

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala criticized the Modi government for replacing the MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G. He alleged this change affects 50 crore poor people and accuses BJP of exploiting Gandhi and Ram's ideals for propaganda. The Congress plans a campaign against this policy shift.

In a critical address, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala slammed the Narendra Modi-led government for replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, citing widespread ramifications for India's poorer populations.

Surjewala, speaking at a press conference in Bhubaneswar, asserted that the replacement directly impacts the livelihoods of approximately 12.5 crore people, including tribal, Dalit and backward classes, translating to a total impact on 50 crores when considering their families.

He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of exploiting the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Ram for political gain and neglecting their ideals in governance. The Congress has planned statewide protests in Odisha, starting January 10, to contest the new law's implications.

(With inputs from agencies.)