Congress Launches Nationwide Protest Against G-RAMG Act

January 3, 2026

New Delhi, Jan 3— The Congress party on Saturday announced a nationwide agitation against the G-RAMG Act, alleging that the legislation “silently kills” the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) and undermines the legal right to work for rural citizens. The campaign, titled ‘MNREGA Bachao Abhiyan’, will commence on January 8 and run for 45 days, aiming to mobilize public opinion and protect rural employment rights.

The announcement was made during a press briefing at the Congress office in New Delhi by party general secretary K.C. Venugopal and senior leader Jairam Ramesh.

Congress Criticizes G-RAMG Act

Speaking to the media, Venugopal said the Congress had finalized a detailed plan to save MNREGA. “G-RAMG is a law enacted by the Indian government. There was a serious discussion about the future course of action against this law, and the Congress National Committee decided to launch a strong campaign throughout the country to save MNREGA,” he said.

Venugopal alleged that the new legislation is harmful to rural workers. “This law wants to kill MNREGA. Because of MNREGA, hunger reduced, migration declined, and roads, canals and dams were created. During the COVID period and economic crisis, MNREGA became a protective net for the people of this country,” he added.

He further criticized the G-RAMG framework, saying, “Under G-RAMG, employment is no longer a right. Work will only be provided through panchayats and not by the government. MNREGA was demand-driven, while G-RAMG includes budget caps. It silently kills the legal right to work.”

Violation of Constitutional Principles

Jairam Ramesh warned that the decentralized nature of MNREGA is being dismantled. “MNREGA was a decentralized scheme. Now everything will be decided in Delhi and villages will suffer. Many panchayats will receive zero funds,” he said.

Ramesh also alleged that the law violates constitutional provisions, citing Article 258, which requires consultation between the central and state governments for such changes. “But they did not do so. They decided it themselves. This violates the Constitution,” he said.

Statewide and Grassroots Agitation

Ramesh compared the campaign to the farmers’ agitation, emphasizing that MNREGA Bachao Abhiyan will not be Delhi-centric. “It will take place at the state, district, block and panchayat levels,” he said.

Highlighting MNREGA’s origins, Ramesh said the act was passed in 2005 with broad political consensus. “In this new law, it is not Viksit Bharat, it is Vinash Bharat. We demand MNREGA be brought back, and rural India be saved,” he added.

The Congress leaders announced that if required, the party will take the matter to court, adding, “The result will be the same as what happened with the three black farm laws.”