Mon Jan 12 02:58:52 UTC 2026: ### Congress Protests Erupt Over MGNREGA Replacement; Alleges Police Brutality
The Story:
The Indian National Congress has launched a nationwide campaign, “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram,” protesting the Union Government’s decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) Act. On January 11, 2026, protests intensified when Congress workers, including members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), were allegedly subjected to a “brutal lathi-charge” by police in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, as they marched peacefully. Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and Priyanka Gandhi, have condemned the police action and accused the “Yogi-Modi trouble-engine” government of suppressing dissent.
Key Points:
* The Congress launched a 45-day nationwide campaign, “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram,” against the repeal of MGNREGA.
* Protests are against the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act, which replaced MGNREGA.
* Alleged police brutality occurred during a protest in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency, on January 11, 2026.
* Congress leaders accuse the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, of ordering the lathi-charge.
* The VB-G RAM G Act was passed in the Rajya Sabha on December 18, 2025, and received presidential assent on December 21, 2025, guaranteeing 125 days of wage employment per rural household annually.
Key Takeaways:
* The replacement of MGNREGA has become a major point of contention between the Congress party and the ruling government.
* Accusations of police brutality raise concerns about the government’s response to dissent and the protection of constitutional rights to peaceful protest.
* The Congress is attempting to frame the issue as a direct attack on the economic rights of rural workers, hoping to mobilize public support against the VB-G RAM G Act.
* The MGNREGA Bachao Sangram appears to be a strategic effort by the Congress to reconnect with its traditional rural base, contrasting its approach to the prior farm law protests.
* The timing of the protests indicates a planned escalation of political pressure leading up to potential elections.
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