POLITICS

MGNREGA Under Threat? Karnataka CM Signals Special Assembly Session, Nationwide Protest

The Bengaluru Live January 9, 2026 10:05 AM 2 minutes read

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Bengaluru: Strongly criticising the Centre over the dilution of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the Karnataka Chief Minister on Thursday said a special session of the State Legislature will be convened soon to pass a resolution demanding the restoration of the scheme in its original form.

Speaking at a meeting of MLAs held at Hotel Ashoka, the Chief Minister alleged that the Centre’s move to weaken MGNREGA was a deliberate political strategy of the BJP. He recalled that the landmark rural employment programme was introduced when Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister, with the objective of generating employment in rural areas.

“MGNREGA was designed to provide livelihood support to Dalits, women and farmers, guaranteeing up to 100 days of employment every year. Today, the Centre is trying to snatch away even this basic right,” the Chief Minister said.

He accused the Union Government of undermining the constitutional right to employment and creating confusion by attempting to dilute the scheme’s identity.
“Removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name and weakening the programme is nothing but another form of killing Gandhiji’s ideals. This is the lesson taught by the Sangh Parivar,” he remarked.

According to the Chief Minister, nearly 28 crore rural poor and marginalised citizens have been adversely affected by the weakening of MGNREGA.
“Our fight must intensify. Those who have taken away the employment rights of the poor must be taught a lesson. The Sangh Parivar cannot tolerate the economic empowerment of the poor,” he said.

Calling for a statewide people’s movement, the Chief Minister urged legislators and grassroots representatives to actively mobilise support.
“A mass agitation must be launched to ensure the revival of the MGNREGA Act. Every Gram Panchayat member should reach out to workers dependent on the scheme. MLAs must also take responsibility for educating the public and creating awareness,” he said.

He maintained that scrapping or weakening a Congress-led welfare programme and denying employment to the poor is unconstitutional, and asserted that the struggle must move beyond the Assembly to become a full-fledged people’s movement.