The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday described Centre’s new VB-GRAM-G scheme that replaced UPA-era MGNREGA as a “gimmick” and “an assault on the rights of the poor.”
Speaking at the MGNREGA Bachao Morcha at the Jawahar Bhawan in New Delhi, Gandhi said that the BJP wants democracy, the Constitution, and the concept of “one person-one vote” to be eliminated from the country.
“These people want to bring back the India of pre-independence,” he alleged.
He said that the BJP leaders are “cowardly people” and to stop them, “we must all stand together.”
The Gandhi scion said that the day they all came together, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have to back down, and MGNREGA will be restored.
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Referring to the three farm laws that prompted massive farmers protests and were eventually taken back, the Congress leader said that a similar attack is being attempted on the workers.
He claimed that under the new VB-GRAM-G employment guarantee scheme, the central government in Delhi will decide how much money to send to which state. “More money will go to BJP-ruled states and less to opposition-ruled states,” Rahul asserted.
The Lok Sabha LoP further added, “The central government alone will decide when and where work will happen, and how much wages a worker will get. The rights that workers had will now go to the contractors.”
He alleged that the BJP wants all the country’s wealth to go into the hands of the rich to keep poor, Dalits ans tribals depends on them.
In contrast, he said, “MGNREGA had given rights to the poor.”
He explained the thinking behind MGNREGA, saying the UPA-era scheme was run under the Panchayati Raj system and under that anyone anyone in need of work could demand work with dignity.
“MGNREGA had the voice of the people, their rights—which Narendra Modi is now trying to dismantle,” he added.