Is Congress Exploiting Mahatma Gandhi's Legacy for Political Gain?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bhopal, Jan 12 (NationPress) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, on Monday, accused the Congress of orchestrating a “false campaign” against the recently introduced Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, which has replaced the long-standing Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Defending the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre's choice to replace the UPA's MGNREGA with the ‘VB-G RAM G Act’, which is under scrutiny nationwide, Chief Minister Yadav stated that the Congress included Mahatma Gandhi's name in the initiative solely for political advantage.
“The Congress is misleading the public by spreading misinformation about the VB-G RAM G Act, which was enacted after passing through Parliament. They (Congress) have been employing the same tactics for years. The Congress has manipulated Mahatma Gandhi's name for its political advantage,” he asserted.
The Chief Minister made these comments while speaking at a workshop on the VB-G RAM G Act held at the State BJP headquarters in Bhopal, which was attended by district party workers.
State BJP Chief Hemant Khandelwal and the party's State General Secretary (Organisation) Hitanand Sharma, along with several other senior party leaders, also spoke at the workshop later.
During his address, Chief Minister Yadav targeted Congress' leadership and Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of questioning the Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya.
The Chief Minister referred to the Lok Sabha LoP as a ‘fake Gandhi’.
“When the Ram temple issue was in the Supreme Court, Congress leaders were doubting the existence of Lord Ram. He (Rahul Gandhi) presents himself as a Gandhi, but he is a fake Gandhi who opposes the Ram temple,” CM Yadav remarked.
He dismissed Congress' accusations as “groundless” and maintained that the VB-G RAM G scheme would offer greater benefits to laborers compared to the now-repealed MGNREGA, as the number of workdays has increased from 100 to 125, and the scheme has been integrated with other initiatives on water conservation, infrastructure, climate change, and livelihoods.
“Gram Panchayats throughout the nation will be determining up to 50 percent of work under the VB-RAM-G Act. It has been associated with major programs like PM Gati Shakti to ensure villagers are aware of the developmental activities occurring in their region,” he concluded.