Modi govt removing MNREGA to ensure cheap labour for big corporates: Revanth

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday alleged that the Modi government’s decision to replace the MGNREGA with VB-GRAM G was a ploy to ensure availability of cheap labour for big corporates by denying the rural poor their right to work. He also warned that the purgation of electoral rights through the Special Intensive Review (SIR) was in reality an exercise to snatch away the voting rights of the poor, minorities, and tribals.

Addressing a meeting at the state headquarters of the Congress, the chief minister alleged, “Today, there is a dearth of labour for big industrialists like Adani and Ambani. If MGNREGA is abolished, the rural poor would again migrate to the cities and Adani and Ambani will get labour at lower wages.”

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He said the prime minister has removed the scheme to make people slaves of companies like the British East India Company. Stating that the MGNREGA had reduced migration to urban centres to a large extent, he questioned the renaming of the act by the Centre. “There is confusion even in the name of the VB-GRAM G scheme introduced by the Modi government. Where is Vikshit Bharat (Developed India)?” wondered the chief minister.

Reddy also said that the NDA government has introduced the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to purge the electoral rolls and the voting rights of the poor and the minorities were being removed under its garb. He warned that if the poor lose their vote, they will lose access to ration cards, Aadhar cards, and welfare schemes. He lamented that whether a person has the right to live in this country is also being determined by the BJP government.

The chief minister reminded that the state Assembly has already passed a unanimous resolution protesting the changes made to the MGNREGA. He directed every village to pass a resolution against the new Act in its gram sabha between 20 January and 30 January. He urged the MLAs and ministers to take responsibility and ensure that the gram sabhas pass the resolution opposing the VB-GRAM G. The party will also organise massive public meetings in nine districts from 3 February onward. The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and chairperson of Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Sonia Gandhi will be invited for the meeting at the tribal dominated the Mulugu district.