MGNREGA repeal: Congress in Karnataka decides to name all Gram Panchayats after Mahatma Gandhi

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday announced that all 6,000 gram panchayats in the state would be named after Mahatma Gandhi.

Addressing the ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’ rally organised at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah slammed the Modi government for scrapping MGNREGA scheme as well as dropping Gandhi’s name in the new scheme (Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar Ajeevika Mission Grameen Act).

“The BJP government cannot tolerate Mahatma Gandhi’s name. They intentionally named the new scheme with the word ‘Ram’ to play on people’s mind. But let me tell you, it is neither ‘Dasharatha Ram’, ‘Kaushalya Ram’, nor ‘Sita Ram’. There is no 'Ram' in this Act. The BJP has scrapped programmes meant for the poor guided by the RSS which wants the poor to remain poor. It is only the Congress that always thinks of the poor,” said Siddaramaiah.

Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar stated that even as the BJP and the JD(S) alleged corruption in MGNREGA, his constituency Kanakapura has spent Rs 200 crore every year and the Centre has recognised it as the most developed taluk.

“We urge the Centre through the governor to roll back the new law and restore MGNREGA. They are killing the gram panchayats, snatching the powers of panchayats and work from the poor. We will not stop till the Centre repeals the VB-G RAM G act just like they withdrew the farm laws following farmers’ protest."

AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said, “The Centre has attacked the livelihoods of 11 crore rural workers. With the new law, the state governments will need to bear the 40% of the cost. But states have no money as the Centre takes away Rs 5 lakh crore as GST and cesses through Finance Commission. Centre owes Rs 70,000 crore to Karnataka alone. The employment guarantee will end on its own for paucity of funds.”

“It will also take away power from seven lakh gram panchayats. Centre which waived off corporates’ loans worth Rs 23 lakh crore is unwilling to fund Rs one lakh crore under MGNREGA to benefit the 55 crore rural poor,” added Surjewala.

A delegation of Congress leaders led by CM, DCM, Surjewala rode a BMTC bus to Lok Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the Governor opposing scrapping of MGNREGA.

CM admonishes crowd for chanting 'DK'

The MGNREGA rally at Freedom Park saw the crowds cheering for deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, as soon as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah got up to give his speech. Even as Siddaramaiah admonished the crowds – ‘Yaarree adu DK annodu...sumniri...(who is that calling out DK, Keep quiet!”.
Rajya Sabha member G.C. Chandrashekhar intervened to pacify the crowd and said, “Youth Congress workers please remain quiet. CM is going to speak. I know who is shouting... Listen to the CM’s speech.”
Siddaramaiah too screamed at the crowds, which refused to stop chanting DCM’s initials. Chandrashekhar once again told the workers that repeated reminders was not necessary.