The Congress party on Wednesday launched nationwide protests against the Centre’s decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), alleging that the move threatens the basic idea of rights-based welfare and could harm millions of rural families who depend on the scheme for employment.
The protests began in the morning and were held at district headquarters across the country. Large numbers of Congress workers and supporters gathered at government offices, public squares, and important landmarks, holding portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, banners, and placards. Party leaders said the use of Gandhi’s image was meant to underline what they described as an attempt to remove his name and values from one of India’s most important social welfare programmes.
According to Congress leaders, MGNREGA is not just a scheme but a legal guarantee that provides work to rural households and acts as a safety net during times of hardship. They argued that changing the name may appear symbolic, but it could signal a deeper shift in the way the programme is viewed and managed. 
The Indian National Congress, in a post on social media platform X, said the decision reflected a broader attempt by the BJP and RSS to weaken rights-based welfare schemes. The party alleged that such moves could reduce accountability and shift control of welfare programmes away from states and local bodies.
“This combined attack on Gandhiji’s legacy, workers’ rights, and federal responsibility exposes a larger conspiracy to dismantle rights-based welfare and replace it with charity controlled from the Centre,” the party stated.
At several protest sites, local Congress leaders addressed gatherings, saying that MGNREGA has played a key role in supporting rural livelihoods, especially during periods of drought, economic slowdown, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers warned that any change that weakens the legal and rights-based nature of the scheme could leave vulnerable families without assured income.
Participants at district-level protests said the issue was not about politics alone but about the survival of rural workers. Many pointed out that for landless labourers and small farmers, MGNREGA wages often help meet basic needs such as food, education, and healthcare.
In Karnataka, Congress leaders and workers assembled near the Gandhi statue at Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi. Holding placards and portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, they said the protests were both symbolic and meaningful. Leaders there said the programme represents Gandhian values of dignity of labour and social justice, which they believe must be protected.
Similar scenes were reported from several other states, where Congress workers gathered peacefully, raised slogans, and submitted memorandums opposing the renaming. Party officials said all state units had been instructed to ensure that the protests remained peaceful and focused on the issue.
Congress leaders also expressed concern that changing the name of the scheme could confuse beneficiaries and weaken public trust. They said rural workers identify strongly with MGNREGA and understand it as a guaranteed right, not a discretionary benefit.
