Crocodile tears: Shivraj on Congress’ ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ protest
The recent announcement of replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Vishwakarma Bharat-Rural Asset Mapping and Geo-Tagging (VB-G RAM G) Act has sparked a heated debate in the country. The Congress party, in particular, has been vocal in its opposition to the move, vowing to launch a nationwide protest, dubbed ‘MGNREGA Bachao’, starting from January 5. However, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has accused the Congress of shedding “crocodile tears” over the issue, claiming that their opposition is purely political.
According to Chouhan, the Congress party’s clamour against the replacement of MGNREGA is nothing but a political stunt. He pointed out that the same party had, on multiple occasions, reduced the budget allocated to MGNREGA during their tenure in power. This, he argued, is a clear indication that the Congress is not genuinely concerned about the welfare of the rural population, but rather, is trying to score political points.
The Congress party’s decision to launch the ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ protest has been seen by many as a desperate attempt to regain relevance in the country’s political landscape. The party has been struggling to come to terms with its dwindling popularity and the loss of power at the center. By opposing the replacement of MGNREGA, the Congress is trying to project itself as the champion of the rural poor, a segment that has traditionally been its vote bank.
However, Chouhan’s remarks have exposed the Congress party’s hypocrisy on the issue. The fact that the party had reduced the MGNREGA budget in the past raises questions about its commitment to the scheme. It is clear that the Congress is more interested in politicizing the issue than in genuinely working towards the welfare of the rural population.
The replacement of MGNREGA with the VB-G RAM G Act is a significant move, aimed at streamlining the implementation of rural development schemes and ensuring better utilization of resources. The new act is designed to provide more employment opportunities to rural workers, while also focusing on the creation of durable assets in rural areas. The act also aims to promote the use of technology in rural development, including the use of drones and satellite imaging to monitor and evaluate the progress of projects.
The Congress party’s opposition to the replacement of MGNREGA is not only unfounded but also misguided. The party’s claim that the new act will lead to a reduction in employment opportunities for rural workers is not supported by facts. On the contrary, the VB-G RAM G Act has the potential to create more jobs and provide better working conditions for rural workers.
In conclusion, the Congress party’s ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ protest is nothing but a political gimmick, aimed at garnering attention and sympathy from the rural population. The party’s hypocrisy on the issue has been exposed by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has rightly pointed out that the Congress is shedding “crocodile tears” over the replacement of MGNREGA. The fact remains that the Congress party has a history of reducing the MGNREGA budget, and its current opposition to the replacement of the scheme is purely political.
As the country moves forward, it is essential to focus on the welfare of the rural population, rather than getting bogged down in political rhetoric. The replacement of MGNREGA with the VB-G RAM G Act is a step in the right direction, and it is essential to support and implement the new act in a fair and transparent manner.
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