The Aam Aadmi Party launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Central Government over the changes made to MGNREGA. AAP MLA and Punjab’s Chief Spokesperson
Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the BJP-led Central Government is conspiring to snatch the livelihood of the poor by making changes to MGNREGA. He said the government should withdraw the VB-G RAM G Bill and restore MGNREGA.
He stated that through this Bill, the Centre has withdrawn from 100 percent funding and imposed a 40 percent financial burden on the states. The Aam Aadmi Party will wage a major agitation for the rights of labourers and will not allow their employment to be taken away.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Aam Aadmi Party MLA and Punjab’s Chief Spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal strongly condemned the changes being made to MGNREGA by the BJP-led Central Government and said that the BJP’s new anti-labour policy is a conspiracy to snatch bread from the mouths of the poor.
He said that the BJP government has changed the name of MGNREGA to the ‘VB-G RAM G Act’ and whatever is being done under this new name is extremely dangerous. He explained that earlier, the Central Government provided 100 percent of the MGNREGA budget, but now it has been divided in a 60-40 ratio. Now the Centre will give 60 percent and the states will have to contribute 40 percent. He questioned that when the states’ GST already goes to the Centre, from where will the states arrange this 40 percent share?
Expressing serious concern, MLA Dhaliwal said that under the new policy, MGNREGA work will not be provided employment during the sowing and harvesting agricultural seasons. He asked where poor labourers, who do not own even one kanal of land and have not sown even two marlas of wheat, will get food from during these two months. Earlier, there was a guarantee of 100 days of work and labourers could work whenever they wished, but now this guarantee is also being taken away.
Dhaliwal said that for the last 14 years, the BJP has been working in the interests of the wealthy people of this country and strangling the poor. He recalled that during the recent floods in Punjab, several areas including Ajnala suffered heavy losses. The Centre announced Rs 1,600 crore but did not release a single new rupee. Funds for rural development are also being withheld.
The AAP leader made it clear that MGNREGA is not charity; it is funding that comes from the states’ GST, which is now being blocked. He said that this new policy is also a major blow to the powers of Gram Panchayats, Block Samitis, and Zila Parishads. Earlier, many development works in villages were carried out through MGNREGA via these institutions, but that path is now being shut down as well.
Demanding action from the Central Government, Dhaliwal said that the ‘VB-G RAM G Act’ should be withdrawn and the original MGNREGA law enacted in 2005 should be implemented in letter and spirit. He warned that if these changes are not rolled back, the Aam Aadmi Party will launch a major struggle against them.
MLA Dhaliwal assured the labourers and poor people of Punjab that the Aam Aadmi Party will fight for their interests both at the national level and in Punjab, and under no circumstances will it allow the employment of the poor to be taken away.
