New Delhi – Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of “single-handedly destroying” the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) without consulting his Cabinet or the states, terming it a devastating blow to the rural economy and India’s democratic structure. Gandhi made these remarks during a press conference following a crucial Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, reiterating the party’s commitment to resisting the government’s action.

Targeting the BJP-led NDA government over the newly enacted VB-G RAM G Act, Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister carried out a sweeping attack on the rights of states and the rural poor, drawing a parallel to the 2016 demonetisation exercise. He said, “The Prime Minister single-handedly destroyed MGNREGA without asking his Cabinet, and without studying the matter. We are going to resist it. We are going to fight it, and I am confident that the entire opposition will stand united against this action.”

Gandhi highlighted that the Congress plans to launch a nationwide ‘MGNREGA Bachao Abhiyan’ on January 5, aimed at mobilising citizens and raising awareness about the impact of the government’s decision. In a later post on X in Hindi, he stated, “There is only one purpose behind the end of MGNREGA – to erase the right to employment for the poor, to steal economic and political power from the states, and to hand over that money to billionaire friends.”

The Congress leader argued that the repeal of MGNREGA, which had been implemented during the UPA era, is not merely a policy change but an assault on a globally recognised development framework. He emphasised that MGNREGA was a rights-based programme that strengthened panchayats, injected funds into local governance, and empowered decision-making at the grassroots level. According to him, the VB-G RAM G Act undermines the federal structure by stripping states of funding and decision-making authority, which were crucial to implementing local infrastructure projects and employment initiatives.

Gandhi said the decision to scrap MGNREGA would disproportionately affect India’s most vulnerable communities, including Adivasis, Dalits, OBCs, minorities, and poor general caste families, while benefitting corporate interests. “It is going to cause tremendous pain to the weaker sections and simultaneously benefit people like Mr Adani in full measure. That is the purpose of this exercise: to take money away from poor people and hand it to corporate entities,” he alleged.

He further underscored that MGNREGA provided a minimum wage floor for rural workers, supporting livelihoods across India’s villages. The new VB-G RAM G Bill, which was passed during the recent Winter Session of Parliament amid vociferous opposition protests, replaces the 20-year-old MGNREGA and provides for 125 days of wage employment for rural workers. Gandhi criticised the move as an attack on India’s democratic structure, the third tier of government, and the foundational architecture of the country, asserting that it undermines both rural employment and state autonomy.

The opposition leader concluded by reaffirming Congress’ resolve to mobilise public opinion, protect the rights of rural citizens, and challenge the government’s legislation through both political and social campaigns, describing it as a direct assault on India’s rural economy, federalism, and democratic institutions.