Hyderabad: Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Wednesday accused the Congress party of spreading misinformation and creating a political ruckus over the alleged abolition of the MGNREGA scheme. He clarified that the Central government has not discontinued the rural employment programme but has expanded it under a new name.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s state office, Rao said the revised scheme – “Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin) – 2025” (VB-GRAM G) – is an upgraded version of MGNREGA. According to him, it now guarantees 125 days of employment, up from the earlier 100 days.
He criticised the Congress for opposing the initiative solely because it contains the word “Ram.” Rao stated, “It reflects their political hatred, not concern for people’s welfare. Congress is ignoring that Mahatma Gandhi himself envisioned Ram Rajya as a model of governance.”
He also contrasted funding levels, claiming that the Congress-led UPA spent only ₹1 lakh crore on MGNREGA over ten years, while the Modi government has spent ₹8 lakh crore in the same period. Rao asserted that the Congress leadership is clinging to Gandhi’s name without upholding his ideas.
BJP defends changes to MGNREGA, blames Congress for misinformation
Rao maintained that the revised scheme is fully in line with Gandhi’s ideals of Gram Swaraj and sustainable rural livelihoods. “This is not a rollback, but a strengthening of the employment guarantee system,” he said.
He further accused the Congress of resorting to symbolic politics, arguing that merely invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s name is no substitute for implementing his philosophy. “If the Congress truly respects Gandhi, they should welcome schemes that reflect his vision,” he added.
The BJP also reiterated that VB-GRAM G aims to ensure rural development through modernised implementation and better employment outcomes. Rao concluded by urging people not to fall for political propaganda and to judge the scheme based on its benefits.