Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addresses a gathering at ‘MGNREGA Chaupal’, in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. Photo: AICC via PTI.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP government of undermining the protections provided for poor people and attempting to centralise power.
On a visit to Raebareli, his parliamentary constituency, Mr. Gandhi alleged that the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) had been undermined by the BJP.
“Narendra Modi wants to take all the power into his hands and starve the poor. Removing Gandhiji’s name from MGNREGA is an insult to him. But the main issue isn’t just the name change. The Modi government has eliminated the protections that were provided to our poor people,” Mr. Gandhi said. “The Congress party is agitating across the country to save MGNREGA and we stand firmly with the workers to protect them. On the one hand, we are protecting the public and on the other hand, Narendra Modi is taking away all the money of the country and giving it to selected industrialists,” he added.
‘Weakening MGNREGA’
He was addressing a MGNREGA Chaupal in his constituency, aimed at educating people about the loopholes in the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM G), which replaces the UPA-era MGNREGA, 2005.
The Congress leader accused the government of systematically “strangling” MGNREGA so that funds meant for workers, women, and the poor could be diverted to big industrialists like Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. “The BJP is not able to end the scheme openly, so they are weakening it slowly,” Mr. Gandhi said, adding that the Congress has launched a nationwide movement to protect MGNREGA and stand firmly with workers.
The rulers of India are only working for the rich, he said. “Unemployment is the major issue in the country but they [the BJP] will not talk about it. They would try to deviate you whenever the issue of unemployment is raised. We are witness of two different Indias today, one is for the billionaires, rich and the other for the poor,’’ the Leader of Opposition said.
‘Decisive struggle’
The State unit of the Congress said that Mr. Gandhi’s visit had boosted the morale of workers in Raebareli and across Uttar Pradesh “The BJP is creating an atmosphere of ‘fear’ and ‘hatred’ in the society. They are also taking away livelihood security from poor people like labourers and farmers through the VB-GRAMG Act which replaces MGNREGA, which was introduced by the Congress government, and helped millions come out of poverty, strengthened rural infrastructure, and provided a legal guarantee of employment. Rahul Ji is fighting a decisive struggle against the BJP’s anti-poor policies,” said Anil Yadav, a senior U.P. Congress leader.
Mr. Gandhi also inaugurated 31 development projects dedicated to the people of the constituency under the MP Development Fund and laid the foundation stones of eight new projects at the Bhuemau Guest House in Raebareli. “Through these development projects, an important step has been taken towards strengthening the infrastructure in Rae Bareli, improving public amenities and giving new impetus to local development,” he said.
He also inaugurated the Raebareli Premier League T20 Cricket Tournament organised by Youth Sports Academy. The Congress leader met with all the teams and players participating in the tournament, encouraging them and emphasising the importance of sportsmanship, discipline, and teamwork. He said that sports not only strengthen youth physically, but also teach leadership, self-confidence, and unity.
During the visit, he also received the long-lost driving license of his grandfather, Feroze Gandhi, which had been preserved for decades by a local family. It was handed over to Mr. Gandhi by Vikas Singh, a member of the organising committee of the cricket tournament.
Published – January 20, 2026 10:16 pm IST
