Asif Iqbal Naik
Kishtwar Jan 16, 2026: On the directions of District Congress Committee (DCC) President Pyara Lal Shan, Youth State General Secretary of the Indian National Congress, Anas Mujtaba Munshi, on Monday convened a meeting with Congress party workers at Mughal Maidan Panchayat, Singdi B2, in the Mughalmaidan area. The meeting witnessed the participation of local party leaders, grassroots workers and youth activists, who discussed the impact of recent policy changes on rural employment and livelihoods.
The meeting was organised as part of a district-wide campaign launched by the Congress party to oppose the new Bill introduced by the BJP government, which seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Party workers expressed strong concern over the proposed legislation, stating that it threatens to dismantle the legally guaranteed right to employment for rural households.
Providing background to the controversy, Congress leaders said that MGNREGA is a rights-based welfare law that assures 100 days of wage employment to rural families, along with provisions for timely wage payments and unemployment allowance. They alleged that the new Bill replaces this statutory guarantee with a discretionary framework, thereby weakening accountability and transparency. According to the party, the proposed replacement lacks clear safeguards on work entitlement, wage security and grievance redressal, which could severely affect rural workers.
Addressing the gathering, Anas Mujtaba Munshi said that the BJP government’s move to replace MGNREGA reflects a shift away from social security for the rural poor. He maintained that MGNREGA has acted as a lifeline for economically weaker sections, especially during times of distress, and warned that any attempt to weaken or scrap the scheme would have serious social and economic repercussions. He asserted that the Congress party would continue to resist any policy that undermines the rights of rural labourers.
He further informed that similar meetings are being organised across various panchayats in the district to mobilise party cadres and create awareness among beneficiaries about the implications of the new Bill. In parallel, peaceful protests are being held at multiple locations across the district, demanding withdrawal of the proposed legislation and continuation of MGNREGA in its original, rights-based form.
Leaders present on the occasion reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding the interests of rural workers and resolved to intensify the campaign until the BJP government rolls back the Bill and ensures protection of employment rights under MGNREGA.
