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The former Rajasthan deputy chief minister also accused the ruling BJP at the Center of continuously indulging in “political vendetta” by falsely implicating Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case.
Pilot said, “The Indian government has committed a historic mistake. For the first time in history, since we got independence, a scheme or program launched in the name of the Father of the Nation has been changed. The government has single-handedly destroyed rural India’s only financial safety net through an earlier program called MNREGA.”
Speaking to reporters, he said, MNREGA has been repealed without any discussion with state governments, stakeholders, civil society. Parliament was used to demonstrate the “brute power of the majority” to advance legislation.
The new law is a systematic attack on the livelihood prospects of those among us who have the least, he said, adding, “Look at the bill that was passed. Earlier (MNREGA) was a demand-driven scheme. Now it is highly centralized. The Government of India will decide what work has to be done at what point. Whereas we had empowered gram sabhas (through MNREGA).” The Empowered India Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) (VB-G RAMG) Bill, 2025, which replaced the rural employment law Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), was approved by Parliament amid strong opposition objections over the “deletion” of Mahatma Gandhi’s name. President Draupadi Murmu gave his assent to the bill on 21 December, with it now becoming an Act.
Noting that earlier the ratio was 90% by the Government of India and 10% by the state governments, the former Union Minister said, by making it 60:40, the entire burden of rural expenditure on livelihood has been put on the state government.
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He alleged that the replacement of MNREGA is a concrete example of how this government has worked against the interests of those who are most marginalised.
He said, “Civil society and all stakeholders have universally condemned this move. It was unwarranted and the Congress party has taken a very strong stand about opposing it. The Congress Working Committee is meeting in New Delhi on December 27. We will discuss how to take it forward. The INDI Alliance block is united on this issue. We will exert all possible pressure to ensure that the government withdraws this bill.”
Accusing the BJP of instigating political vendetta by falsely implicating Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul in the National Herald case since coming to power in 2014, Pilot said the court has said it will not take cognizance of the case filed by the ED.
“It has become clear from the court order that the case was politically motivated… We have been proven innocent,” he said.
A Delhi court recently refused to take cognizance of the Enforcement Directorate’s money laundering charges against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul and five others in the National Herald case.