Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin slammed the Centre's move to rename rural employment scheme MGNREGA and charged that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government is doing so out of spite towards Mahatma Gandhi.
In a post on X, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader urged the Centre to withdraw amendments to the rural employment scheme. "Out of spite towards the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, they have removed his name and imposed a northern language name that doesn't even enter the mouth!" he tweeted.
மகாத்மா காந்தி 100 நாள் வேலை உறுதித் திட்டத்தைச் சிதைத்துச் சின்னாபின்னமாக்கும் ஒன்றிய பா.ஜ.க. அரசு!
— M.K.Stalin - தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) December 15, 2025
🔨 தேசத்தந்தை காந்தியடிகளின் மீதுள்ள வன்மத்தால் அவர் பெயரைத் தூக்கிவிட்டு, வாயில் நுழையாத வடமொழிப் பெயரைத் திணித்திருக்கிறார்கள்!
🔨100% ஒன்றிய அரசின் நிதியில்… pic.twitter.com/4JCSTbAwxL
"For a scheme that is being implemented entirely with 100 per cent funding from the Union government, they will now allocate only 60 pc funding!" he noted. The Centre aims to repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act with Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025.
The VB-G RAM G will be a centrally sponsored scheme, and every state government will have to prepare a scheme for giving effect to the guarantee proposed under this bill, within a period of six months from the date of the implementation of the Act, PTI reported.
According to reports, the Centre's allocation for each state would be based on certain parameters. And, expenditure in excess of the approved allocation would have to be borne by state governments.
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Stalin, questioning the fund allocation parameters, charged Tamil Nadu is being punished as it is a state that has "completely eradicated poverty" in the country. "Because it is a state without poverty, the benefits of this scheme will be available to the people of Tamil Nadu only to a lesser extent than what exists," he charged.
"The Union BJP government is arrogantly attempting to destroy a scheme that has rescued crores of people from the clutches of poverty and paved the way for them to live with dignity. Just as you backed down on things like #ThreeFarmLaws, #CasteCensus, the people will certainly make you back down in your attempt to sabotage #MGNREGA," the key Opposition leader said.
