Hyderabad: Congress leaders on Saturday held a protest at Paradise Circle on MG Road in Secunderabad, opposing the Centre’s decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) organised the demonstration with strong participation from senior state leaders.
TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud joined Ministers D. Sridhar Babu, Azharuddin, Jupally Krishna Rao, P. Vivek, Vakiti Srihari, MLA Naveena Yadav, and other party members. They criticised the name change as politically motivated and deeply disrespectful to Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy.
Congress protests MGNREGS renaming, slams BJP over Gandhi erasure
Mahesh Kumar Goud directly accused the BJP of trying to erase Gandhi’s name for political gains. “The MGNREGS exists to guarantee 100 days of employment to rural families. Removing Gandhi’s name doesn’t just change the label—it weakens the intent and affects those living below the poverty line,” he said.
Echoing this view, Minister Jupally Krishna Rao described the move as “wicked” and “an insult to every Indian.” He urged rural citizens to remain united and press Parliament to reverse the decision.
Other Congress leaders said the Centre was undermining rural welfare through both policy and symbolism. They argued that continued changes to flagship schemes indicate disregard for grassroots realities.
The protest ended with a strong call to escalate public pressure until the scheme’s original name is restored.