Gurdaspur/Hoshiarpur, Jan 8: The Punjab Congress on Thursday launched the first phase of its statewide campaign, ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’, with large rallies in Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur, asserting that it would force the Centre to restore the rural employment guarantee scheme.
Thousands of party workers, labourers, farmers and supporters attended the rallies, where senior Congress leaders accused the BJP-led Union government of dismantling welfare measures meant for rural and marginalised communities.
Addressing the gathering, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel said the Congress had a consistent record of standing with working people. “MGNREGA was introduced by the Congress in 2005 under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh, and it earned global recognition as a pro-poor programme,” he said.
Baghel alleged that after the scheme was weakened, the Congress leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, decided to take up the cause of labourers who lack organised platforms to fight for their rights.
He also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab, calling it the “B-team of the BJP”. “The state government has not even released 10 per cent of its required contribution for MGNREGA works,” Baghel claimed.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opposed MGNREGA from the beginning, branding it a failed scheme. “The reality is that MGNREGA gave dignity to the rural poor and strengthened the rural economy by increasing purchasing power,” Warring said.
He questioned the BJP’s claim of providing 125 days of employment under a new framework. “When the implementation of 100 days of work under MGNREGA never crossed 48 per cent nationally, and is almost non-existent in Punjab, how can people trust such promises?” he asked.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa accused the Centre of adopting an anti-Punjab stance, alleging that Rs 9,000 crore in rural development funds had been withheld. “With the weakening of MGNREGA, the rural poor will suffer the most,” he said.
