“This Is an Attack on States and the Poor”: Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre Over MGNREGA name change

New Delhi: Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday launched a sharp offensive against the Union government, accusing it of weakening federalism and dismantling a globally recognised rural employment framework through changes to MGNREGA.

Addressing a press conference after a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Gandhi said the Centre’s recent policy decisions amount to a direct blow to state autonomy and the livelihoods of marginalised communities. He argued that funds and decision-making powers that rightfully belong to states are being steadily centralised.

“This is an attack on the states of India. Money that belongs to the states and powers that belong to the states are being taken away. It is also an attack on state infrastructure because MGNREGA played a crucial role in building rural assets,” Gandhi said.

The Congress leader stressed that MGNREGA was not merely a wage employment scheme but a comprehensive development model rooted in rights-based governance. “MNREGA is not just a work programme. It is a development framework that has been appreciated globally. It gave dignity, stability and opportunity to rural India,” he added, citing international recognition of the scheme.

Gandhi’s remarks come in the backdrop of the Centre passing the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025 during the recent Winter Session of Parliament, effectively replacing the MGNREGA Act of 2005. The move triggered strong protests from Opposition parties, who accused the government of weakening social security mechanisms.

Congress leaders claim the new legislation dilutes employment guarantees and reduces the role of states in planning and execution. According to the party, the restructuring risks reversing years of progress in rural employment, infrastructure creation and poverty alleviation.