Chennai, Feb
5 (TNT) : Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu on Thursday launched a scathing political attack on the BJP-led Union government, questioning what “sin” Mahatma Gandhi had committed that his name was removed from the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Scheme.
Addressing a massive public meeting here after a padayatra organised by the Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee, Bhatti accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre of deliberately weakening the Employment Guarantee Act through policy changes.
He alleged that the amendments were aimed at dismantling a landmark welfare programme brought in by the Indian National Congress-led UPA to protect agricultural labourers.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the scheme, introduced under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was a “silent revolution” that guaranteed 100 days of work and established employment as a right.
He claimed that by removing Gandhi’s name and altering core provisions, the BJP had stripped the law of its soul and betrayed crores of rural workers.
Taking a direct political dig, Bhatti said the Congress would not remain silent and announced that nationwide agitations were being carried out on the call of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Rahul Gandhi, to force the Centre to fully restore the Act.
He asserted that until the Mahatma Gandhi Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 is restored in letter and spirit, crores of Congress leaders and workers would continue their struggle on the streets.
Praising Tamil Nadu for leading the protests, he said the state had once again emerged as the frontline of resistance against what he termed “anti-poor policies” of the BJP government.
Senior Congress leaders, including TN PCC President Selv and AICC Secretary Cholankarji, also participated in the rally, which turned into a strong political show of strength against the Centre’s welfare policy changes.
TNT KS
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