Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressing a rally at ‘MGNREGA Chaupal’ in Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh. Photo: AICC via PTI.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP government of undermining protections given to poor people and seeking to centralize power.
On a visit to Raebareli, his parliamentary constituency, Mr Gandhi alleged that Mahatma Gandhi’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) had undermined the BJP.
“Narendra Modi wants to take all the power in his hands and let the poor starve. Removing Gandhi’s name from MGNREGA is an insult to him. But the main problem is not just the name change. The Modi government has removed the protection that was given to our poor people,” Mr Gandhi said. “Congress party is campaigning all over the country to save MGNREGA and we stand firmly behind the workers to protect them. On one hand we are protecting the public and on the other hand Narendra Modi is taking all the country’s money and giving it to selected industrialists,” he added.
‘Weakening of MGNREGA’
He addressed MGNREGA Chaupal in his constituency to educate people about the loopholes in the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-GRAM G) replacing the UPA-era MGNREGA, 2005.
The Congress leader accused the government of systematically “throttling” MGNREGA so that funds meant for workers, women and the poor could be diverted to big industrialists like Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. “The BJP is not able to end the scheme openly, so they are slowly weakening it,” Mr Gandhi said, adding that the Congress had launched a nationwide movement to protect MGNREGA and stood firmly with the workers.
India’s rulers work only for the rich, he said. “Unemployment is the main problem in the country but they (BJP) will not talk about it. They would try to deviate you whenever the issue of unemployment comes up. Today we are witnessing two different Indias, one is for the billionaires, the rich and the other is for the poor,” the opposition leader said.
‘The Decisive Fight’
The state unit of the Congress said that Mr. Gandhi’s visit boosted the morale of workers in Raebareli and across Uttar Pradesh “BJP is creating an atmosphere of ‘fear’ and ‘hate’ in society. It is also taking away security of livelihood from poor people like laborers and farmers through the VB-GRAMG Act, which replaces the rural government that replaced MGNREGA and helped strengthen poverty for millions by providing infrastructure and legal guarantee of employment to Rahul Ji he is fighting a decisive battle against BJP’s anti-poor policies,” said UP Congress leader Anil Yadav.
Mr. Gandhi also inaugurated 31 development projects dedicated to the people of the constituency under the MP Development Fund and laid the foundation stones of eight new projects at Bhuemau Guest House in Raebareli. “Through these development projects, an important step has been taken to strengthen infrastructure in Rae Bareli, improve civic amenities and provide a new impetus to local development,” he said.
He also launched Raebareli Premier League T20 cricket tournament organized by Youth Sports Academy. The head of the congress met all the teams and players participating in the tournament, encouraged them and emphasized the importance of sportsmanship, discipline and teamwork. He said sports not only strengthens the youth physically but also teaches leadership, self-confidence and unity.
During the visit, he also received the long-lost driving license of his grandfather Feroz Gandhi, which had been kept by a local family for decades. It was handed over to Mr. Gandhi by Vikas Singh, a member of the organizing committee of the cricket tournament.
Published – 20 Jan 2026 22:16 IST
