Kannada and Culture, Backward Classes Welfare Minister and Koppal district in-charge Shivraj S. Tangadagi accused the BJP-led Union Government of ‘assassination of Mahatma Gandhi for a second time’ by renaming the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Addressing a press conference in Koppal on January 11, Mr. Tangadagi said that while Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by Nathuram Godse, the Centre had now ‘killed Gandhi for the second time’ by removing his name from the employment guarantee scheme. “The BJP only pays lip service to Gandhi. By changing the name of a scheme associated with him, it has shown the level of respect it has for Mahatma’s legacy,” he said.
Accusing the Union Government of functioning in an authoritarian manner, the Minister said the decision was taken without consulting the States. “The Centre is behaving like Hitler and Saddam Hussein. There is no place for such governance in a democracy. We will launch a nationwide protest against this decision. The BJP is targeting the rights of workers and the poor. It come to power not through people’s mandate but through vote theft,” he said.
Mr. Tangadagi said changing the scheme would severely affect rural livelihoods, particularly women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. “Over 12 crore workers depend on MGNREGA, including more than six crore women. In Karnataka alone, more than 71 lakh people benefitted from the scheme, especially in north Karnataka. The Centre of is setting fire to their lives by destroying a crucial safety net for the poor,” he said.
The Minister alleged that the BJP was acting under pressure from the RSS and was driven by a ‘Manusmriti mindset’ that was hostile to Dalits, women and marginalised communities. He accused the Narendra Modi-led government of prioritising corporate interests over the welfare of ordinary citizens, and said earlier UPA governments had introduced landmark rights-based schemes in employment, education and food security.
Curated by Aisha Patel
