Congress to launch nationwide campaign to save MGNREGA, says Pilot

On the party's foundation day, Congress leader Sachin Pilot announced a nationwide campaign against what he termed a 'conspiracy' to weaken the MGNREGA scheme. Pilot also addressed internal unity, reaffirming the party's united front.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot shared plans for MGNREGA for Congress on the occasion of the party's foundation day on Sunday. Addressing party workers, Pilot described the Congress as the oldest and most organised political party in the world, with a legacy rooted in the freedom movement and the strengthening of democratic institutions. "It is our party's foundation day, and I feel that our party is the most organised and oldest party in the world.", said Pilot.

Congress to launch 'Save MGNREGA' campaign

He said the foundation day was an occasion not only to celebrate the party's history but also to reflect on how its values, principles and ideas could be taken to people across the country. On the Congress party's foundation day, the senior leader said the party would renew its commitment to its core values and launch a nationwide campaign against what it alleges is an attempt to weaken the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Pilot announced that the Congress would begin a countrywide campaign from Thursday to oppose what he termed a "conspiracy" to end MGNREGA, claiming that the government's policies were gradually eroding the rural employment scheme. "The Congress will launch its campaign across the country starting today against the conspiracy they have hatched to end MGNREGA. We will face the remaining challenges and firmly present our side in the cases that are in court.", he said.

He said the party would raise the issue at all levels to protect the interests of rural workers and vulnerable sections of society. Congress party members have consistently opposed renaming MGNREGA to the G-Ram-G Bill, which was ultimately passed in both houses. INC national president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday had announced that the party will launch a nationwide 'Save MNREGA' campaign from January 5, making the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) the central focus of a mass movement.

Pilot on Digvijaya Singh's comments, party unity

Pilot also weighed in on the RSS and Digvijaya Singh issue, which raised questions about the unity among Congress members. To explain the situation, he said, "Congress party is united. The country needs a strong opposition. We intend to strengthen the organisation. In our party, we have the right to speak about our thoughts."

He added that Digvijaya Singh said what he wanted, but the encompassing goal of every Congress member is to strengthen the opposition leaders. "He said whatever he had to, and after that, he also gave his clarification. All the Congress leaders have only one goal to strengthen Kharge and Rahul ji," added Pilot.

This comes after Congress leader Digvijaya Singh reiterated on Saturday that he remains firmly opposed to the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) but admires its organisational capacity.

What fanned the rumours of internal differences within the Congress was his comment on the party's organisational strength. Singh said, "I can say this much that there is room for improvement, and every organisation should always have room for improvement," he said. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)