NEW DELHI, Jan 3: The Congress on Saturday announced a nationwide agitation titled ‘MGNREGA Bachao Sangram’, to be held from January 10 to February 25, demanding the withdrawal of the Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB G-RAM-G) Act and restoration of MGNREGA in its original, rights-based form.
Addressing a joint press conference, Congress general secretaries K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh alleged that the new Act undermines the right to work, weakens Panchayati Raj institutions and centralises power with the Union government. Venugopal said the law strips MGNREGA of its legal guarantee, turning employment from a right into a centrally controlled scheme, and termed it an attack on India’s federal structure.
The Congress said it would consult INDIA bloc partners and opposition-ruled states on a joint strategy, including the possibility of resisting implementation of the new law. Ramesh claimed the Act violates constitutional provisions, including Article 258, by imposing a 60:40 Centre–state funding ratio without state consent, and asserted that no BJP-ruled state is fully prepared to implement it.
Detailing the protest plan, Venugopal said district-level press conferences will be held on January 10, followed by symbolic protests and fasts on January 11. Panchayat-level outreach programmes will run from January 12 to 29, ward-level sit-ins on January 30, state-level Vidhan Sabha gheraos from February 7 to 15, and major rallies between February 16 and 25. Preparatory meetings will begin on January 8 at state Congress headquarters.
The Congress also announced it would challenge the VB G-RAM-G Act in court, reiterating its demand for the complete withdrawal of the law and restoration of MGNREGA as a rights-based employment guarantee for rural households.
