Removing Mahatma Gandhi’s Name from MGNREGS Is a Grave Offence: Ramanath Rai

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, December 19, 2025: Former minister Ramanath Rai said that amending the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from it is a grave offence, and that the Dakshina Kannada District Congress strongly condemns this move by the Union government.

Addressing a press conference at the DK District Congress office, he said the scheme was a landmark initiative introduced during the UPA regime and has been appreciated across the world.

He recalled that when the scheme was introduced, opposition parties had criticised it, calling it a corrupt programme. However, the scheme, implemented in Mahatma Gandhi’s name, has benefited the poor, farmers and the working class. Removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name now amounts to an insult, he alleged, adding that this is part of the continuing denigration of Mahatma Gandhi by Sangh Parivar forces.

Earlier, wages under the scheme were paid entirely by the Union government. Now, fixing the Centre’s share at 60 per cent and the State’s at 40 per cent, along with changing the name, is an attempt to weaken the scheme, Rai said. This clearly reflects the BJP’s attitude towards Gandhiji, he added.

He further alleged that the BJP is attempting to rewrite history by erasing from its pages those who sacrificed for the nation. Mahatma Gandhi is honoured with statues in around 80 countries across the world. The Prime Minister garlands Gandhi’s statues during foreign visits, yet within the country efforts are being made to erase his very name, he said.

Former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, Ashraf K.E., block presidents B.L. Padmanabh Kottian and Prakash Salyan, District Publicity Committee president Dennis D’Silva, State Mahila Congress general secretary Manjula Nayak, city Mahila Congress president Appi, DCC vice-president Shubhodaya Alva, general secretary Jayasheela Adyanthaya, T.K. Sudheer, Dinesh Mulur, Samarth Bhat and Shabbir Siddakatte were present at the press conference.