Congress' MGNREGA Bachao Sangram begins
Source: The Sangai Express

Tbl/Bpr/Kpi, January 11 2026: Joining the 45-day Nationwide MGNREGA Bachao Sangram, Congress organised protest demonstrations at Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kangpokpi and Ukhrul today, demanding the BJP-led NDA Government to repeal VB-G RAM G Act 2025 .

The "VB-G RAM G", short for Viksit Bharat�Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) .

The MGNREGA, a flagship scheme of the UPA Government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was enacted in 2005 and it came into force in 2006 .

Even since the VB-G RAM G was introduced, the Congress has been protesting, asserting that the new Act has diluted the values of MGNREGA and insulted Mahatma Gandhi.

The Thoubal District Congress Committee Congress leaders and workers organised a one-day hunger strike at their office today.

The MGNREGA Bachao Sangram was organised with the slogan "Restore MGNREGA, Restore Dignity, Restore Rights" .

Thoubal District Congress Committee president N Lukhoi, secretary L Basanta, members of Block Congress Committees and Mahila Congress Committee took part in the protest demonstration.

The committee's president, N Lukhoi said the replacement of the MGNREGA with VB-G RAM G and "attempt to remove the picture of Mahatma Gandhi from Indian currency notes" has revealed a pattern aimed at erasing Mahatma Gandhi's legacy.

The VB-G RAM G has diluted the values and rights guaranteed under MGNREGA, he said.

The Congress workers raised slogans against the BJP and urged the NDA Government to repeal the VB-G RAM G .

The Bishnupur District Congress Committee organised MGNREGA Bachao Sangram at Nambol Block Congress Committee office today.

During the protest demonstration, former Minister Nameirakpam Loken said the BJP-led Government, by introducing the VB-G RAM G, has given the scheme a religious tinge.

He claimed that the BJP is deliberately trying to portray the country as a Hindu Nation.

He said the Central BJP leadership has no respect for their MLAs in Manipur.

The former Minister claimed that Manipur as a State would disintegrate further if the BJP returned to power in the next election.

Ex-MLA P Sharatchandra Singh, Nambol Block Congress president and Bishnupur District Congress Committee vice president L Jiten Meitei, MPCC general secretary H Meghachandra, and many other leaders took part in the protest demonstration.

The Sadar Hills District Congress Committee (SHDCC) members too observed a hunger strike at NC Event Hall, Saparmeina.

MPCC general secretary & in-charge SHDCC, Sorkho George, MPCC vice-president Dr Lamtinthang Haokip, BCC president R Rengsinkhup Kharam and many workers took part in the protest.

The Congress leaders accused the Modi Government of diluting MGNREGA.

"The MGNREGA guaranteed 100 days of work as a legal right to rural people, to be provided within 15 days on demand.

Under the Modi Government, this right has been effectively scrapped, with work now treated as a "scheme" to be distributed selectively, based on political convenience," said a leader during the protest demonstration.

"Stagnant wages, denial of work during harvest seasons and arbitrary wage fixation have pushed workers into desperation, forcing them to accept exploitative labour without minimum wage protection.

This is nothing but institutionalised wage theft," alleged the Congress leaders.

The SHDCC demanded the Government to guarantee work, guarantee wages, guarantee accountability, and immediately rollback all anti-worker changes made to MGNREGA.

The Congress leaders demanded full restoration of the right to work and National minimum wage of Rs 400 per day.

The MGNREGA Bachao Sangram was also organised in Ukhrul.

Several members of the MPCC led by its president MLA K Meghachandra took part in the demonstration, organised by the MPCC in association with the Block Congress Committee of Chingai Assembly Constituency.

Congress leaders, Soibam Jiten, Wahidur Rahman, W Shyamjai and Wangkhem Sobha are part of the MPCC team visiting Ukhrul.

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