Modi opposed MGNREGA as it was associated with the Mahatma: Congress

The Congress on Friday, January 30, 2026, stepped up its attack on the Union government over the repeal of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not want a Mahatma Gandhi-related law to maintain or guarantee the legal right to work to people.

The accusation was made by Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh during a protest at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office. Senior party leaders and workers had marched from 24, Akbar Road, towards Gandhi Smriti, protesting against the “taking away of the constitutional right to work by the Modi government”. However, the march was stopped by the Delhi Police before it could reach its destination.

Addressing the gathering during the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram Yatra’, Mr. Ramesh said, “The Modi government has scrapped MGNREGA by running a bulldozer over it.” he said. Describing the law as “historic and revolutionary”, he said it was passed unanimously in September 2005, with former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi playing key roles in its formulation.

“MGNREGA was a constitutional right, it guaranteed legal employment to the people. This law strengthened the panchayats. For the first time, money was distributed to every family through DBT. [direct benefit transfer]Mr. Ramesh said: “But this law was canceled because Narendra Modi did not want this law associated with Mahatma Gandhi.” jito continue for a long time. “He doesn’t want people to get their rights.”

Congress media and publicity department chief Pawan Khera said the party is steadfastly resisting the move. “A government that insults the farmers, laborers and youth of the country cannot remain in power for long. Narendra Modi must understand that his government will have to pay the price for this,” he said.

Rights-based framework

Mr. Ramesh also argued that MGNREGA had benefited thousands of families by giving them the right to legal employment but its provisions have now been “eroded”. He said the Viksit Bharat – Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) scheme had diluted the “original spirit” of the UPA-era legislation.

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Devender Yadav termed the repeal as part of the “continuous attack on the poor”.

The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act 2025, which the Union government passed in December, replaced MGNREGA; The opposition says the move weakens the rights-based framework of the earlier law.