Karnataka Congress Protests Centre’s Move to Replace MGNREGA, Slams ‘Politics of Hatred’

The ruling Congress party in Karnataka on Saturday staged a strong protest in Bengaluru against the Union government’s decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The party also accused the Centre of pursuing “politics of hatred” against Congress leaders in connection with the National Herald case.

The protest was held at Freedom Park and was led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar. Several senior party leaders, ministers, and legislators took part in the demonstration.

Addressing the gathering, Shivakumar said the Congress would not allow what he described as an attempt to change the values of the country. He asserted that the party would resist efforts to undermine Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and accused the ruling BJP of trying to remove Gandhi’s name from key national schemes.

He alleged that replacing MGNREGA amounted to disrespecting Mahatma Gandhi, who, he said, had sacrificed his life for the nation’s unity and freedom. Shivakumar went on to criticise BJP leaders, stating that they no longer had the moral right to protest in front of statues of Mahatma Gandhi.

Challenging the BJP-led government at the Centre, he said the Congress would oppose any attempt to distort history or diminish Gandhi’s contribution to the nation. He also accused the Union government of targeting Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, through what he called politically motivated cases linked to the National Herald issue.

According to Shivakumar, the Nehru-Gandhi family had made significant sacrifices for the country, while the current government had, in his words, lost its sense of dignity by misusing central agencies for political purposes.

Earlier this week, Shivakumar, along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other Congress leaders, had staged a similar protest in Belagavi during the winter session of the Karnataka legislature. Parallel demonstrations were also organised across district and taluka headquarters in the state.

The protests come in the wake of Parliament passing the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, which aims to replace MGNREGA. The move has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who argue that it removes Mahatma Gandhi’s name from a landmark rural employment programme.

Meanwhile, a Delhi court recently declined to take cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering charges against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others in the National Herald case, a development cited by Congress leaders as evidence of political vendetta.