Congress protests Centre’s renaming, dilution of MGNREGA in Himachal, Punjab

Congress leaders and workers in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh on Friday (January 30, 2026) staged demonstrations against the Centre government’s renaming and dilution of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, along with other Congress leaders, paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his death anniversary in Shimla and later observed a two-hour fast in protest against the renaming and dilution of MGNREGA.

He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government at the Centre has not only changed the name of MGNREGA but has also undermined the very spirit of the scheme. “Earlier, the scheme provided employment opportunities, especially to the youth and women in rural areas, but employment avenues are now being curtailed,” he alleged.

“Today’s two-hour fast was organised to protest against the systematic dismantling of the scheme,” he said, pointing out that earlier the Union government use to bear 100% of the expenditure under MGNREGA, but it has now been changed to a 90:10 funding pattern, which would adversely affect the interests of Himachal Pradesh.

In Punjab, Congress leaders and workers held ‘Save MGNREGA’ rally in Dakha, near Ludhiana. Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and general secretary in charge of Punjab, Bhupesh Bhagel, accused the BJP government at the Centre of snatching the livelihood of the poor. They also condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab for failing to take remedial measures at the local level.

Mr. Bhagel promised that the Congress will restore the MGNREGA at all costs, expressing confidence that the Congress will form the government in Punjab in 2027 and the rights and livelihood of the labourers would be restored.