Rahul Gandhi, Kharge join ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’; Cong plans to make it 'mass movement'

NEW DELHI: Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday joined the 'MGNREGA Bachao Sangram' in the national Capital, as several Congress leaders launched a sharp attack on the Modi government and announced plans to turn the campaign into a nationwide mass movement.

The programme saw participation from senior Congress leaders, Members of Parliament, MLAs, representatives of civil society organisations and MGNREGA workers from various states.

Speaking to IANS, All India Mahila Congress President Alka Lamba alleged that the BJP-led central government had launched a “dictatorial” attack on the right to rural employment without consulting state governments, stakeholders associated with MGNREGA or the workers themselves.

She claimed that the scheme had been systematically weakened, alleging that jobs were being taken away from rural workers and that even Mahatma Gandhi’s name had been removed from the programme.