Congress holds night-long satyagraha against scrapping of MGNREGA in Mysuru

The Congress party held a night-long satyagraha at Town Hall in Mysuru, in Karnataka, against the scrapping of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme by the BJP-led government at the Centre.

The satyagraha, which began on February 1 evening with the showering of flower petals on the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi square, featured a number of activities, including offering flower petals to the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, reading of the preamble of the Constitution, playing of revolutionary and patriotic songs.

Congress workers held a night-long satyagraha at Town Hall in Mysuru opposing the withdrawal of MGNREGA scheme.
| Photo Credit:
M A Sriram

The Congress workers shouted slogans in favour of Mahatma Gandhi and his ideals after showering flower petals on his statue.

Minister for Social Welfare H. C. Mahadevappa, who is the Minister in charge of Mysuru district, former MP V. S. Ugrappa, former Minister Shivanna, former MLA M. K. Somashekar, State Government’s Guarantee Implementation Committee Vice-Chairperson Pushpa Amarnath, Mysuru district Congress President B. J. Vijaykumar and Mysuru city Congress President R. Murthy were among the participants.

The night-long satyagraha at Town Hall featured documentaries on MGNREGA and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, biopic on Mahatma Gandhi, and speeches by Congress leaders.

Mr. Mahadevappa, in his address, said the purpose of the night-long satyagraha was to demand the withdrawal of the VB G RAM G, short for Vikasit Bharat Guarantee Rozgar Ajeevika Mission Grameen, that ‘has been brought in by the Centre in a hurried manner’.

The MGNREGA had helped construction of a large number of cow sheds, anganwadis, classrooms, compound walls for schools, and toilets, with gram panchayats having the power to identify projects in its jurisdiction. Hence, the Centre should bring back MGNREGA, he said.